Compare towns
Ayer vs Suffield vs Wolcott 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 the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
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 | Suffield | Wolcott | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
15,702 |
16,279Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.4±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Wolcott 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Wolcott 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% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Wolcott 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. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$110,850±$10k 37% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| 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±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,464±$913 4% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Wolcott 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. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,799 86% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±24.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Suffield 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #76 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Suffield School District | Wolcott School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Suffield High School | Wolcott High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.9 |
10.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.