Compare towns
Shirley vs Brookline vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
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 | Brookline | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976 |
5,736Lowest |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156 65% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% 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% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Brookline School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.