Compare towns
Great Barrington vs Deerfield vs Alford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Great Barrington has the most kids (14.9% under 18).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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.
| Measure | Great Barrington | Deerfield | Alford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,202Highest |
5,158 |
433Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.2Lowest 24% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Great Barrington and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
43%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
63.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Great Barrington and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$121,042±$11kHighest 16% above MA |
| Alford and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $494,300±$61k 12% below MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Alford and Deerfield 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 |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$3,913Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 25% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
26 minHighest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.2%±6.4 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Berkshire Hills | Deerfield · Frontier | — |
| High school in town | Monument Mt Regional High | Frontier Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.