Compare towns
Conway vs Athol vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Conway | Athol | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,755 |
12,011Highest |
915Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
58±5.8Highest 45% above MA |
| Goshen and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.4%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Conway and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Goshen and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,250±$11k 6% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$98,906±$10kHighest 5% below MA |
| Goshen and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,900±$25kHighest 30% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$351,900±$25k 37% below MA |
| Conway and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
| Conway and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,797Highest 3% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,022 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±66.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Goshen and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.1%±7.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Goshen 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Athol-Royalston | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.