Compare towns
Conway vs Needham vs Whately 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 homeowners (93.4%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Needham | Whately | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,755 |
32,459Highest |
1,499Lowest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,250±$11k 6% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$990 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
| Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Lowest 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Conway | Needham | Whately | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.