Compare towns
Shirley vs Pelham 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%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
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 | Pelham | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,146 |
1,335Highest |
752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±14.6Lowest 11% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
47.1±11.1Highest 18% above MA |
| Hancock and Pelham 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% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Hancock 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% |
26.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,494±$62k 4% above MA |
$113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
$96,250±$26kLowest 7% below MA |
| Pelham and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,800±$50k 30% below MA |
$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
$375,500±$21kLowest 33% below MA |
| Pelham and Shirley 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 |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,268±$415Highest 28% below MA |
| Hancock and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,398 27% below MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±15 MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±36.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hancock and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±17.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Pelham | 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.