Compare towns
Ayer vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
Shirley has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Townsend | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
9,100Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Townsend 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%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Shirley and Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Ayer and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
| Shirley and Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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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.