Compare towns
Conway vs Lancaster 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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
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 | Lancaster | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,755 |
8,606Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Conway and Whately 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% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Conway and Whately 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% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lancaster 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±$11kLowest 6% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$990 about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Nashoba | 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 |
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.