Compare towns
Conway vs Dalton 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 people working from home (29.1%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Ashfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
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 | Dalton | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,755Lowest |
6,256Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Conway 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% |
27.9%±5.7Lowest 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% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Conway and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,250±$11kHighest 6% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% 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 | $395,900±$25k 30% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$400,600±$30kHighest 29% 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 | $1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
| Conway and Ashfield 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 |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Dalton 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Central Berkshire | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.