Compare towns
Deerfield vs Sterling 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).
Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Sterling | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
8,183Highest |
1,755Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
51.5±1.8Lowest 29% 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% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$97,250±$11kLowest 6% below MA |
| Sterling and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
| Sterling and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
| Conway and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$5,797Lowest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sterling and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Wachusett | Conway |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.