What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Monterey has the most kids (11.2% 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	Monterey
People
Population	433Lowest	954Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+13.9% MA: +7.4%
Median age	63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA	62.3±14Lowest 56% above MA
	Alford and Monterey 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%	11.2%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Monterey and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	43%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	43.5%±13.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Monterey and Alford 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%	64.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±4.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Monterey 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±$11kLowest 16% above MA	$152,353±$89kHighest 47% above MA
	Monterey and Alford 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	$603,200±$57kLowest 7% above MA
	Alford and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kLowest about the MA average	$1,762±$128Highest about the MA average
	Monterey and Alford 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	$2,858Lowest 52% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	43.3%±85.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Monterey 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%	4.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	87.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 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%±6.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	23.6%±16.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Monterey and Alford 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.