Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Windham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Windham | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
16,038Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| 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%±3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586 40% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 105% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Windham School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.