Compare towns
Ayer vs Northbridge 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%).
Northbridge has the shortest commute (31 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 | Northbridge | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
16,458Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Ayer 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% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Northbridge 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 MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±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 |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Shirley and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Ayer and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,156Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Northbridge | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.