What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).

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	Halifax	Shirley
People
Population	7,748Highest	6,976Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1% MA: +7.4%	+3.1% MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA	44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA
	Shirley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Halifax and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Shirley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	36.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Shirley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA	$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA
	Shirley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA	$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA
	Halifax and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average	$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA
	Halifax and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,840Highest 14% above MA	$5,156Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Shirley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%	9.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 22% above MA	40 minHighest 39% above MA
Work from home	13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Shirley and Halifax 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	#120 of 282 in MA	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	Halifax	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.