What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lenox has the most kids (13.3% 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	Lenox
People
Population	433Lowest	5,079Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.4% MA: +7.4%
Median age	63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA	60.1±4.3Lowest 50% above MA
	Alford and Lenox 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%	13.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lenox 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%	40.1%±7.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Alford and Lenox 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%	52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lenox 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	$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average
	Alford and Lenox 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	$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA
	Alford and Lenox 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	$5,299Highest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.2%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lenox 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%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 12% below MA	23 minLowest 22% below MA
Work from home	22.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Alford and Lenox 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	—	#90 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Lenox
High school in town	—	Lenox Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.6
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.