Compare towns
Conway vs Sutton vs Ashfield vs Whately
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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Sutton | Ashfield | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,755 |
9,452Highest |
1,893 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Sutton and Whately 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Conway and Sutton 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Sutton 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Lowest 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Conway | Sutton | Mohawk Trail | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.