Compare towns
Conway vs Dudley vs Ware 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%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Dudley | Ware | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,755Lowest |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 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% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Ware 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,250±$11kHighest 6% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
| Conway and Dudley 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 |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% 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 |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
| Conway and Dudley 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ashfield 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.