Compare towns
Ayer vs Pelham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
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 | Pelham | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
14,449Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Pelham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Shirley 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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 39% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Pelham 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Shirley 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%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. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Pelham School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| 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.