What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).

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	Lancaster	Shirley
People
Population	8,606Highest	6,976Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA	44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA
	Shirley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Shirley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA	$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA
	Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA	$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA
	Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA	$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA
	Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Highest 21% above MA	$5,156Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%	57.1%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%	9.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	40 minHighest 39% above MA
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%	21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lancaster 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	#145 of 282 in MA	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	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.