Compare towns
Alford vs Lee vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alford has the most expensive homes ($794k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Goshen has the most affordable homes ($352k 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 | Alford | Lee | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 433Lowest |
5,719Highest |
915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA |
55.2±5.8Lowest 38% above MA |
58±5.8 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% |
12.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lee and Goshen 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% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
31.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Alford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Goshen and Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$98,906±$10k 5% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$351,900±$25kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
| Alford and Lee 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 |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$5,022Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±66.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Goshen and Lee 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.1%±7.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Alford and Goshen 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Lee | — |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.