What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tyringham has the most kids (8.7% under 18).

Alford has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	Tyringham	Alford
People
Population	494Highest	433Lowest
Median age	59.2±2.7Lowest 48% above MA	63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA
	Alford and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	8.7%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%	5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Tyringham and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	43%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Alford and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	63.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Tyringham and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA	$121,042±$11kLowest 16% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$699,400±$96kLowest 24% above MA	$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA
	Alford and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA	$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average
	Alford and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,632Highest 23% below MA	$3,913Lowest 35% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Tyringham and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Highest MA: 10%	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	89.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 23% above MA	26 minLowest 12% below MA
Work from home	26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6%	22.2%±6.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Tyringham and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.