What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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	Brookline
People
Population	6,976Highest	5,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S.	41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Shirley and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,365±$16kLowest 52% above U.S.	$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S.	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,481±$421Lowest 5% above U.S.	$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S.
	Brookline and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shirley and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	33 minLowest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline 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	#23 of 120 in NH
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Brookline School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.