What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alford has the most expensive homes ($794k median).

Conway has the most kids (16.5% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alford	Conway
People
Population	433Lowest	1,755Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-7.2% MA: +7.4%
Median age	63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA	55.6±3Lowest 39% above MA
Kids under 18	5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.5%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	43%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%	31.9%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	63.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	60.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Alford and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,042±$11kHighest 16% above MA	$97,250±$11kLowest 6% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA	$395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kLowest about the MA average	$1,800±$990Highest about the MA average
	Conway and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,913Lowest 35% below MA	$5,797Highest 3% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	23.9%±33.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Conway and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%	4.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	93.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 12% below MA	24 minLowest 18% below MA
Work from home	22.2%±6.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Conway and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Conway
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.