Compare towns
Ayer vs Springfield vs Worcester 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 the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
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 | Springfield | Worcester | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Ayer 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Ayer 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Shirley and Ayer 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
| 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±$180 20% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Worcester and Shirley 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,156Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
9.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Springfield Central High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.2 |
14.6Highest |
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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.