Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Ayer vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Lunenburg | Ayer | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
8,645 |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Shirley and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401Highest 7% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Ayer Shirley School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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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.