What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nashua has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

Shirley has the most homeowners (77.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Nashua	Shirley
People
Population	91,294Highest	6,976Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average	44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S.
	Shirley and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Nashua and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Shirley and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shirley and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S.	$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S.	$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Shirley and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,737±$41Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,481±$421Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Nashua and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,799Highest 118% above U.S.	$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shirley and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Shirley and Nashua 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	#67 of 120 in NH	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashua School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Nashua High School South	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.