Compare towns
Abington vs Shirley vs Raynham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abington has the youngest population (median age 39.1).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
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 | Abington | Shirley | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,053Highest |
6,976Lowest |
15,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
42.9±1.5 7% above MA |
| Shirley and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Abington and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,400±$12kHighest 21% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$124,012±$16k 19% above MA |
| Abington and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$524,400±$29k 7% below MA |
| Abington and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250 about the MA average |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,749±$74Highest about the MA average |
| Raynham and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,045Highest 18% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,752 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 14% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
36 min 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley and Abington 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 | #143 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Abington | Ayer Shirley School District | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Abington High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.