Compare towns
Ashfield vs Conway vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
Conway has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% 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.
| Measure | Ashfield | Conway | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893 |
1,755Lowest |
2,684Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
55.6±3 39% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$97,250±$11kHighest 6% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Conway and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
$395,900±$25k 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Ashfield and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Conway and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197 13% below MA |
$5,797Highest 3% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Conway | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.