What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has the most kids (20.1% under 18).

Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Pepperell	Shirley
People
Population	11,663Highest	6,976Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA	44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA
	Shirley and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Shirley and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA	$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA
	Pepperell and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA	$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA	$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA
	Shirley and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,698Highest 12% above MA	$5,156Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Shirley and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	9.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 16% above MA	40 minHighest 39% above MA
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Shirley and Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.