Compare towns
Alford vs Lee vs Tyringham
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 most affordable homes ($353k median).
Tyringham has the highest household income ($163k).
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 | Tyringham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 433Lowest |
5,719Highest |
494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA |
55.2±5.8Lowest 38% above MA |
59.2±2.7 48% above MA |
| Alford and Tyringham 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% |
8.7%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Lee and Tyringham 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%±6.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Alford and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.7% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,042±$11k 16% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$699,400±$96k 24% above MA |
| Alford and Tyringham 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 |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,050±$393Lowest 40% 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 |
$4,632Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyringham 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham and Alford 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 Our Story | 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.