What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alford has the most expensive homes ($794k median).

Goshen has the most kids (11% 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	Goshen
People
Population	433Lowest	915Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-8.9% MA: +7.4%
Median age	63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA	58±5.8Lowest 45% above MA
	Alford and Goshen 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%	11%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Goshen 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%	31.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	63.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Goshen 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	$98,906±$10kLowest 5% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA	$351,900±$25kLowest 37% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average	$869±$727Lowest 51% below MA
	Alford and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,913Lowest 35% below MA	$5,022Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	60%±66.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Goshen 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%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	88.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 12% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	22.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6%	19.1%±7.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Alford and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.