Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Worcester 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%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Worcester | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
831Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Worcester 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| 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 105% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 |
| School district | Lunenburg | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.