Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Ogunquit vs Ashby 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 the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Ashby | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
1,379Lowest |
3,211 |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Ashby 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
— | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| 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 105% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #87 of 282 in MA | — | #200 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | — | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.