What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sandisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

Phillipston has the most kids (17% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sandisfield	Phillipston
People
Population	994Lowest	1,895Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.9±7.5Highest 25% above MA	48.8±1.7Lowest 22% above MA
	Sandisfield and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	17%±5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Phillipston and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9%	17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Highest MA: 47.3%	25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.8%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sandisfield and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,111±$23kLowest 12% below MA	$94,692±$14kHighest 9% below MA
	Phillipston and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,300±$34kLowest 36% below MA	$372,400±$27kHighest 34% below MA
	Phillipston and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,250±$220Lowest 29% below MA	$1,375±$849Highest 22% below MA
	Phillipston and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,328Lowest 44% below MA	$3,914Highest 35% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Phillipston and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	92.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	16.5%±8Highest MA: 18.6%	9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sandisfield and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.