Compare towns
Deerfield vs Athol vs Conway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Conway has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Deerfield | Athol | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
12,011Highest |
1,755Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
| Conway and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$97,250±$11k 6% below MA |
| Deerfield and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$395,900±$25k 30% below MA |
| Deerfield and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
| Conway and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,797 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
27 minHighest 8% below MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Athol-Royalston | Conway |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.