What stands out worked out from the figures below

Great Barrington has the most kids (14.9% under 18).

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

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	Great Barrington	Alford
People
Population	7,202Highest	433Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	49.7±4.2Lowest 24% above MA	63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA
Kids under 18	14.9%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	28.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	43%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	63.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA	$121,042±$11kHighest 16% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$494,300±$61kLowest 12% below MA	$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA	$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average
	Alford and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,935Highest about the MA average	$3,913Lowest 35% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Great Barrington and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Highest MA: 10%	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 25% below MA	26 minHighest 12% below MA
Work from home	23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6%	22.2%±6.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Great Barrington and Alford 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	#139 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Berkshire Hills	—
High school in town	Monument Mt Regional High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.2	—
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.