Compare towns
Conway vs Ware vs Shelburne
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%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Shelburne has the most renters (32.2% rent).
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 | Ware | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,755 |
10,048Highest |
1,567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
57±7.3Highest 43% above MA |
| Shelburne 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shelburne 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,250±$11kHighest 6% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$83,000±$4k 20% below MA |
| Conway and Shelburne 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$405,400±$32kHighest 28% below MA |
| Shelburne 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,080±$105 39% below MA |
| Conway and Shelburne 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,595 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Shelburne 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Ware | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.