Compare towns
Shirley vs Lancaster vs Pelham
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%).
Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).
Pelham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Lancaster | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,146Lowest |
8,606Highest |
1,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±14.6 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
45±8.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Pelham 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,494±$62kLowest 4% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
| Lancaster and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,800±$50kLowest 30% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
| Lancaster and Pelham 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,398Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±15 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±17.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Pelham 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Pelham |
| 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.