What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alford has the oldest population (median age 63.1).

Mount Washington has the most kids (16.1% 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	Mount Washington
People
Population	433Highest	193Lowest
Median age	63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA	52.1±10.7Lowest 30% above MA
	Alford and Mount Washington 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%	16.1%±14.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Mount Washington 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%	27.5%±13Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Alford and Mount Washington 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%	46.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.6%±7.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Alford and Mount Washington 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	$142,500±$26kHighest 37% above MA
	Mount Washington 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	$714,300±$141kLowest 27% above MA
	Alford and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1k about the MA average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,913Highest 35% below MA	$3,316Lowest 45% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	75%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Mount Washington and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Highest MA: 10%	2.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	87.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 12% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	22.2%±6.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.1%±14.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Mount Washington and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.