What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

Conway has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dalton	Conway
People
Population	6,256Lowest	10,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S.	55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S.
	Conway and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Conway and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Conway and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$8kHighest about the U.S. average	$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Dalton and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S.	$314,000±$43kHighest 6% below U.S.
	Conway and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,095±$141Highest 23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Highest 37% above U.S.	$4,087Lowest 31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.3%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Conway and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 16% below U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Conway and Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA	#76 of 120 in NH
School district	Central Berkshire	Conway School District
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	Kennett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.