Compare towns
Conway vs Berlin vs Ashfield
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 kids (16.5% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
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 | Conway | Berlin | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,755Lowest |
3,378Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% 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 | 16.5%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Conway and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest 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+ | 60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Conway 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 |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$990 about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
| Berlin and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,797 3% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Berlin 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Berlin-Boylston | Mohawk Trail |
| 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.