Compare towns
Conway vs Dedham vs Needham 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Dedham | Needham | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,755Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham 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 |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$990 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,797 3% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Conway 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Dedham | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.