Compare towns
Ashfield vs Orleans vs Conway
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 housing (typical home built 1967).
Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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.
| Measure | Ashfield | Orleans | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893Highest |
1,480Lowest |
1,755 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4 47% above MA |
64±8.9Highest 60% above MA |
55.6±3Lowest 39% above MA |
| Orleans and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
7.8%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Conway and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
45.1%±14.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
31.9%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Ashfield 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% |
51%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Conway and Ashfield 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 |
$78,359±$16kLowest 25% below MA |
$97,250±$11kHighest 6% 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±$30k 29% below MA |
$582,000±$111kHighest 4% above MA |
$395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200 38% below MA |
$1,040±$876Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
| Conway and Ashfield 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 |
$3,427Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,797Highest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
24.1%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
67%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
19 minLowest 35% below MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.9%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Orleans 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 | — | #158 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Conway |
| High school 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.