What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alford has the shortest commute (26 min average).

Egremont has the most kids (10.9% 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	Alford	Egremont
People
Population	433Lowest	1,230Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+12% MA: +7.4%
Median age	63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA	56.9±13.6Lowest 42% above MA
	Alford and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	10.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Egremont and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	43%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%	30.4%±9.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Alford and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	63.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	67.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Egremont and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,042±$11kHighest 16% above MA	$101,458±$30kLowest about the MA average
	Alford and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA	$664,900±$109kLowest 18% above MA
	Alford and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average	$1,349±$393Lowest 23% below MA
	Alford and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,913Highest 35% below MA	$3,647Lowest 39% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	8.5%±40.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Egremont and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 12% below MA	44 minHighest 50% above MA
Work from home	22.2%±6.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.6%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Egremont and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Southern Berkshire
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.