Compare towns
Shirley vs Colebrook vs Townsend
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 people working from home (21%).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Colebrook | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976 |
1,494Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Colebrook 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook 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% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Colebrook 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. |
$111,250±$17kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 5% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Townsend 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. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Townsend 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% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 29% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Colebrook School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.