Compare towns
Ayer vs Walpole 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%).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($687k median).
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 | Walpole | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
26,388Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Walpole 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole 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% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Walpole 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% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Walpole 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 |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±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% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
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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.