Compare towns
Shirley vs Exeter 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 homeowners (77.4%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Exeter | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Shirley 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.