What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).

Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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.

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

Measure	Auburn	Shirley
People
Population	6,119Lowest	6,976Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±5.9 14% above U.S.	44.3±3.4 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Auburn and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Shirley and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Auburn and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S.	$122,365±$16kLowest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S.	$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S.	$1,481±$421Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Auburn and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,092Highest 159% above U.S.	$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shirley and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1984 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Auburn and Shirley 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	#44 of 120 in NH	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	Auburn School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.