Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Shirley vs Sutton
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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
6,976Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton 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±$421 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% 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 | $6,401 7% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Sutton 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Ayer Shirley School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| 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.