What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shirley has the most renters (22.6% rent).

Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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	Shirley	Ashby
People
Population	6,976Highest	3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA	50.5±3Highest 26% above MA
	Ashby and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	17%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ashby and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ashby and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	43.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Shirley and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA	$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA
	Shirley and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,600±$36kHighest 24% below MA	$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA
	Shirley and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA	$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA
	Shirley and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,156Lowest 14% below MA	$6,034Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Shirley and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest MA: 10%	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 39% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6%	17.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Shirley and Ashby 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	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.