What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alford has the shortest commute (26 min average).

Tyringham has the most kids (8.7% 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	Tyringham
People
Population	433Lowest	494Highest
Median age	63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA	59.2±2.7Lowest 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%	8.7%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Tyringham 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%	35.2%±8.8Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Tyringham 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	$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA	$699,400±$96kLowest 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	$1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA
	Alford and Tyringham 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	$4,632Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	60%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Tyringham 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%	3.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 12% below MA	36 minHighest 23% above MA
Work from home	22.2%±6.4Lowest 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.
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.