Compare towns
Tyringham vs Plainfield vs Lee vs Alford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tyringham has the highest household income ($163k).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Lee | Alford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 494 |
1,314 |
5,719Highest |
433Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±2.7 52% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
63.1±2.4Highest 62% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.2%±8.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Tyringham 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 102% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$121,042±$11k 50% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $699,400±$96k 110% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$794,400±$144kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| 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 26% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Alford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,632 49% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,980 28% above U.S. |
$3,913Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #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 | None yet | 20 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.