Compare towns
Ayer vs Blackstone vs Woonsocket vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Ayer | Blackstone | Woonsocket | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
9,255 |
43,521Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone-Millville | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Blackstone Millville RHS | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
13.6 |
15.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.