Compare towns
Conway vs Worcester vs Cummington
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%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Cummington has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
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 | Worcester | Cummington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,755 |
207,055Highest |
902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
55.1±6.7 38% above MA |
| Conway and Cummington 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%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
32.2%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Cummington 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±7.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester and Cummington 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 |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$104,167±$32kHighest about the MA average |
| Cummington 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±$25kHighest 30% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$300,600±$32kLowest 47% below MA |
| Conway and Worcester 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 |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$825±$365Lowest 53% below MA |
| Conway and Worcester 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 |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$3,875Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
22.8%±27.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
39 minHighest 34% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.9%±10 MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Cummington 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| 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.