What stands out worked out from the figures below

Conway has the most people working from home (29.1%).

Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Conway	Sterling
People
Population	1,755Lowest	8,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±3Highest 39% above MA	51.5±1.8Lowest 29% above MA
	Conway and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sterling 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%	22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sterling 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	$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA
	Sterling 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	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$990Highest about the MA average	$1,699±$161Lowest 4% below MA
	Conway and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,797Lowest 3% below MA	$6,757Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sterling and Conway 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%	6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 18% below MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Conway and Sterling 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	—	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Conway	Wachusett
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.