Compare towns
Douglas vs Shirley vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% rent).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Shirley | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
6,976Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Ayer Shirley School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 7.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.