Compare towns
Conway vs Northbridge 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%).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Northbridge | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,755Lowest |
16,458Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge 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±$11k 6% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
| Northbridge and Conway 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 |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
| Conway and Northbridge 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Northbridge 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% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Northbridge | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.