Compare towns
Ayer vs Danvers vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Shirley has the most homeowners (77.4%).
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 | Danvers | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
28,098Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
| Danvers and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Danvers and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Danvers and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.