Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Shirley vs Townsend
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%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
6,976Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Townsend 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±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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 |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% 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 | $6,401Highest 7% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Townsend 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 24% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Ayer Shirley School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.