Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Shirley vs Raynham
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 people working from home (21%).
Raynham has the most expensive homes ($524k 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.
| Measure | Lunenburg | Shirley | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
6,976Lowest |
15,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
42.9±1.5Lowest 7% 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 9% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
$124,012±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
| Raynham and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$524,400±$29kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,749±$74 about the MA average |
| Lunenburg and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 7% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,752Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham 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 MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.1% 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 minLowest 24% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
36 min 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley and Lunenburg 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 | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Ayer Shirley School District | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
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| 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.