Compare towns
Ayer vs Grantham 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 youngest population (median age 39.2).
Grantham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Grantham | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
3,465Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Grantham 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Grantham 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% |
17%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Grantham 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Grantham 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 26% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Grantham 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. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above 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±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $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 | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Grantham School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.