Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Exeter vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Exeter | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
16,151Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Shirley 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 40% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| 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 39% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 105% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.