Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Shirley vs Douglas
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%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Shirley | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
6,976Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Shirley and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Lunenburg 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% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Douglas 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 9% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
| Douglas and Lunenburg 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 |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Douglas 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 |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley and Douglas 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Ayer Shirley School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.