Compare towns
Douglas vs Harvard vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Douglas | Harvard | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Highest |
6,927Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Douglas and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Harvard | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.0Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.