Compare towns
Ashfield vs Conway vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
Conway has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Ashfield | Conway | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893 |
1,755Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
55.6±3 39% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Ashfield and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
31.9%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$97,250±$11k 6% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,800±$990 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
$5,797 3% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Ashfield 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 | — | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Conway | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.