Compare towns
Conway vs Ware vs Shutesbury
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Shutesbury has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Shutesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,755Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,910 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
50.2±4.5 26% above MA |
| Conway and Shutesbury 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% |
14.2%±2.3Lowest 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%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.5% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shutesbury and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$123,333±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,900±$25kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$376,100±$21k 33% below MA |
| Conway and Shutesbury 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 |
$1,721±$111 about the MA average |
| Conway and Shutesbury 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,642Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±17 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±7.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Shutesbury 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 | Shutesbury |
| 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.