What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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	Ayer
People
Population	6,976Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Shirley and Ayer 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%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Shirley and Ayer 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%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Shirley and Ayer 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	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
	Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
	Ayer and Shirley 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	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,156Highest 14% below MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 39% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer 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	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	None in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	12 photos →

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.