Compare towns
Conway vs Marblehead vs Shelburne
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).
Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Shelburne has the most renters (32.2% rent).
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 | Marblehead | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,755 |
20,413Highest |
1,567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
57±7.3Highest 43% above MA |
| Shelburne 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% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shelburne 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% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Marblehead and Shelburne 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 |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$83,000±$4kLowest 20% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$405,400±$32k 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA |
| Conway and Marblehead 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,595Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead and Shelburne 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | — | #47 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Marblehead | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.