Compare towns
Egremont vs Needham vs Alford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Egremont has the most affordable homes ($665k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Alford has the oldest population (median age 63.1).
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.
| Measure | Egremont | Needham | Alford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,230 |
32,459Highest |
433Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 56.9±13.6 42% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA |
| Alford and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.9%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±9.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
43%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Alford and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
63.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,458±$30kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$121,042±$11k 16% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $664,900±$109kLowest 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$794,400±$144k 41% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,349±$393Lowest 23% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,750±$1k about the MA average |
| Needham and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,647Lowest 39% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,913 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 8.5%±40.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 50% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.2%±6.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Egremont 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Southern Berkshire | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.