Compare towns
Conway vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Townsend | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,755Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Townsend and Ashfield 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 |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
| Conway and Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Townsend 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | North Middlesex | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.