Compare towns
Sandisfield vs Royalston vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Royalston has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
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.
| Measure | Sandisfield | Royalston | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 994 |
1,460Highest |
630Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.9±7.5 25% above MA |
47.8±14.6Lowest 20% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
| Peru and Sandisfield 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% |
21.2%±10Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Royalston and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±5.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Peru and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sandisfield and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,111±$23k 12% below MA |
$102,109±$8kHighest about the MA average |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
| Royalston 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±$34kHighest 36% below MA |
$346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
| Sandisfield and Royalston 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 |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
— |
| Royalston and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,328 44% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
$3,805Highest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4% MA: 62.5% |
96%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sandisfield and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.