Compare towns
Shirley vs Gill vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.8%).
Gill has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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.
| Measure | Shirley | Gill | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,146 |
1,740Highest |
752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±14.6 11% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
47.1±11.1Highest 18% above MA |
| Hancock and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±8.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hancock and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,494±$62kHighest 4% above MA |
$90,208±$14kLowest 13% below MA |
$96,250±$26k 7% below MA |
| Shirley and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,800±$50kHighest 30% below MA |
$340,100±$17kLowest 39% below MA |
$375,500±$21k 33% below MA |
| Shirley and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $982±$797Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,193±$246 32% below MA |
$1,268±$415Highest 28% below MA |
| Hancock and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,398Highest 27% below MA |
$4,318 28% below MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±15Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Gill and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
22 min 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±17.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8 MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley and Gill 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Gill-Montague | Hancock |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.