What stands out worked out from the figures below

Edgartown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Edgartown	Shirley
People
Population	5,278Lowest	6,976Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+27.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.9±8.6Highest 30% above MA	44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA
	Edgartown and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Shirley and Edgartown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.7%±8.9Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Edgartown and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Shirley and Edgartown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,236±$33kHighest 20% above MA	$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA
	Edgartown and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,199,300±$262kHighest 113% above MA	$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,796±$470Highest about the MA average	$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA
	Edgartown and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,641Highest 6% below MA	$5,156Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30%±35.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Shirley and Edgartown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	9.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984 20 yrs newer than MA	1984 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	12 minLowest 60% below MA	40 minHighest 39% above MA
Work from home	25.6%±15.2Highest MA: 18.6%	21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Edgartown 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	#242 of 282 in MA	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	Edgartown	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.