Compare towns
Monterey vs Lee vs Alford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monterey has the highest household income ($152k).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
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 | Monterey | Lee | Alford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 954 |
5,719Highest |
433Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 62.3±14 56% above MA |
55.2±5.8Lowest 38% above MA |
63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA |
| Alford and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lee and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 43.5%±13.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
43%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Monterey and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
63.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±4.9 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,353±$89kHighest 47% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$121,042±$11k 16% above MA |
| Monterey and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,200±$57k 7% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA |
| Alford and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,762±$128Highest about the MA average |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,750±$1k about the MA average |
| Monterey and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,858Lowest 52% below MA |
$3,980Highest 34% below MA |
$3,913 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±85.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 22% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
26 minHighest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 23.6%±16.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Monterey 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Lee | — |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.