Compare towns
Ayer vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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 | Reading | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
25,612Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Reading | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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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.