Compare towns
Tyringham vs Ware vs Otis 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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware | Otis | Alford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 494 |
10,048Highest |
1,624 |
433Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±2.7 48% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
51±3.2 28% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Otis 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
63.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 57% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$121,042±$11k 16% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $699,400±$96k 24% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% 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±$393 40% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Alford and Otis 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$3,913 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham and Otis 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Ware | Farmington River Reg | — |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.