What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Worthington has the most kids (12.8% 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	Worthington
People
Population	433Lowest	1,021Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.2% MA: +7.4%
Median age	63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA	61.6±3.6Lowest 54% above MA
	Alford and Worthington 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%	12.8%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Worthington 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%	39.5%±5.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Alford and Worthington 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%	46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.1%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Alford and Worthington 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	$91,667±$17kLowest 12% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA	$380,400±$26kLowest 32% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average	$633±$220Lowest 64% below MA
	Alford and Worthington 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	$5,443Highest 9% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.5%±63Highest MA: 51.8%
	Worthington 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%	4.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	93.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 12% below MA	41 minHighest 41% above MA
Work from home	22.2%±6.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	28.2%±12.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Worthington and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Worthington
High school in town	—	None in town
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.