Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
43% of residents are 65 or older in Alford, above both Massachusetts’ towns (19%) and U.S. towns (18%). Among 284 Massachusetts towns, just 2 have a higher median age than Alford. 28% of the land in Alford is conserved, above both Massachusetts’ towns (19%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). Alford Springs, at 894 acres with 8 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Alford has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Alford beats most towns.
Census counts: 577 in 1790, a low of 200 in 1930, 486 in 2020. The archive holds 8 old photos and papers going back to 1937 and 7 maps from 1885 on.
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Alford. Close and well known come first.
5 mi MuseumNorman Rockwell Museum
9 mi TheatreTanglewood
30 mi MountainMount Greylock
21 mi MuseumOlana State Historic Site
33 mi MuseumClark Art Institute
33 mi WaterfallKaaterskill FallsNorman Rockwell Museum: User:Rmrfstar, CC BY 2.5 · Tanglewood: Daderot., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mount Greylock: Jstergis, CC BY 3.0 · Olana State Historic Site: Netniks, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Clark Art Institute: Daderot, Public domain · Kaaterskill Falls: Mwanner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Who provides power, water and the rest in Alford, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Alford.
Most working residents leave Alford for work: only 4% work in town. 2.3% of residents live below the poverty line in Alford. Since 2013, Alford has added 265 jobs, to 289 in 2023.
| Alford | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 2.3% | 6% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $121,000 | $120,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.4% | 9.8% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 30 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
14 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves. Alford’s trail density is 1.2 miles per square mile.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Alford Springs | 8 mi | 894 |
| 2. Tom Ball Mountain Reserve | 1.6 mi | 105 |
| 3. Elizabeth Woods Wildlife Conservation Easement | 1.5 mi | 86 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Alford has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Alford is 81°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Alford beats the Massachusetts average on 13 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 14% of Alford adults report frequent mental distress.
| Alford | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 33% | 33% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 84% | 82% | 79% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 9.4% | 11% | 14% |
| What stands out | Alford | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.7% | 11.1% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 7.6% | 12.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.3% | 8.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 54% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Alford since 1996.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
1 within 15 miles of the center of Alford
About 3 of every 100 Alford residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across Massachusetts.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Town in Massachusetts, United States
Alford is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 486 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Alford has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
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