Compare towns

Sandisfield vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Peru has the oldest population (median age 52.6).

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.

MeasureSandisfieldWarePeru
People
Population
994
6,369Highest
630Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%
MA: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.9±7.5
25% above MA
39.8±6Lowest
about the MA average
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%
23.3%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.3%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
Ware 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%
17.4%±3.9Lowest
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%
MA: 47.3%
15.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
28%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.8%±4.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Sandisfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,111±$23kHighest
12% below MA
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
$90,750±$18k
13% below MA
Sandisfield and Peru 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
$253,400±$31kLowest
55% below MA
$267,400±$15k
52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,250±$220Highest
29% below MA
$1,039±$104Lowest
41% below MA
—
Sandisfield and Ware 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
$3,408
43% below MA
$3,805Highest
36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
64.5%±17.3
MA: 51.8%
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Sandisfield and Ware 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%
14.1%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.4%
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
98.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
14 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1983Highest
19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
8% above MA
27 minLowest
9% below MA
31 min
7% above MA
Work from home
16.5%±8
MA: 18.6%
16.6%±5Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.3%±4.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Ware and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #267 of 282 in MA —
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.