Compare towns
Ayer vs Chaplin vs Mansfield 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 the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Chaplin | Mansfield | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
2,070Lowest |
25,358Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$72,393±$12kLowest 10% 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. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$335,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$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±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,602±$104Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Shirley 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. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,727Highest 84% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mansfield 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mansfield and Ayer 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 | — | #45 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Parish Hill High School | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
7.5Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.