Compare towns
Conway vs Deerfield vs Sterling
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%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Deerfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,755Lowest |
5,158 |
8,183Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
51.5±1.8Lowest 29% above MA |
| Conway and Deerfield 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% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling 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% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,250±$11kLowest 6% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
| Sterling and Deerfield 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 |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
| Sterling and Deerfield 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 |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
| Conway and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,797Lowest 3% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sterling and Deerfield 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% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Sterling 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 | — | #156 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Conway | Deerfield · Frontier | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Frontier Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.