Compare towns
Ayer vs Needham vs Upton 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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.
| Measure | Ayer | Needham | Upton | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
32,459Highest |
8,189 |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Needham High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.