Compare towns
Tyringham vs Sutton vs Lee 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 most people working from home (26.2%).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
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 | Sutton | Lee | Alford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 494 |
9,452Highest |
5,719 |
433Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±2.7 48% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
63.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$121,042±$11k 16% above MA |
| Tyringham and Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% 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 |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| 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 23% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$3,913Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyringham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
26 min 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham and Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sutton | Lee | — |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.