Compare towns
Conway vs Springfield vs Worcester 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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,755Lowest |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,250±$11kHighest 6% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
| Conway and Ashfield 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% 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 |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
| Conway and Worcester 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| 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.