What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Shirley	Chaplin
People
Population	6,976Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Shirley and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Shirley and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chaplin 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin 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±$16kHighest 52% above U.S.	$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
	Shirley and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S.	$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Shirley and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,156Highest 65% above U.S.	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shirley and Chaplin 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%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	32 minLowest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Shirley and Chaplin 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	Ayer Shirley School District	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	None in town	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.