Compare towns
Tyringham vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% 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.
| Measure | Tyringham | Lancaster | Alford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 494 |
8,606Highest |
433Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±2.7 48% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% 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% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.2%±8.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
63.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Tyringham and Lancaster 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 |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$121,042±$11kLowest 16% above MA |
| Tyringham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $699,400±$96k 24% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,750±$1k about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,632 23% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$3,913Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Tyringham 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.2%±6.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Tyringham 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | — |
| 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.