Compare towns
Conway vs Danvers vs Ashfield vs Whately
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%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Danvers | Ashfield | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,755 |
28,098Highest |
1,893 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% 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% |
17.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Danvers 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% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 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% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Danvers 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 |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Danvers and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$990 about the MA average |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Danvers 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 |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Danvers 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Conway | — | Mohawk Trail | Whately |
| 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 | 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.