Compare towns
Tyringham vs Athol vs Alford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tyringham has the highest household income ($163k).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% 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.
| Measure | Tyringham | Athol | Alford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 494 |
12,011Highest |
433Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±2.7 48% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% 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%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.2%±8.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest 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% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
63.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$121,042±$11k 16% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $699,400±$96k 24% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below 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 |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Alford and Athol 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 |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,913 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyringham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | — |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.