Compare towns
Mount Washington vs Alford vs Rowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mount Washington has the most people working from home (30.1%).
Alford has the oldest population (median age 63.1).
Rowe has the most affordable homes ($275k 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 | Mount Washington | Alford | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 193Lowest |
433 |
453Highest |
| Median age | 52.1±10.7 30% above MA |
63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA |
48.9±6.4Lowest 22% above MA |
| Alford and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±14.2 MA: 19.4% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±13Lowest MA: 17.9% |
43%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.2% MA: 47.3% |
63.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±7.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowe and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,500±$26kHighest 37% above MA |
$121,042±$11k 16% above MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
| Mount Washington and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $714,300±$141k 27% above MA |
$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
| Alford and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,313±$576Lowest 25% below MA |
| Alford and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,316 45% below MA |
$3,913Highest 35% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Mount Washington and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.3% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.3% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±14.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Mount Washington and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Rowe |
| 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.