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 renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Ware | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 994 |
10,048Highest |
630Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.9±7.5 25% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% 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 |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$220Highest 29% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 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 |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sandisfield and Ware 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 | — |
| School district | — | Ware | — |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.