What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).

Halifax has the most kids (22.2% 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.

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

Measure	Shirley	Halifax
People
Population	6,976Lowest	7,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1% MA: +7.4%	+3.1% MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA	41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA
	Shirley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Halifax and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Shirley and Halifax 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 MA: 47.3%	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Shirley and Halifax 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 18% above MA	$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA
	Shirley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA	$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA
	Halifax and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA	$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average
	Halifax and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,156Lowest 14% below MA	$6,840Highest 14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Shirley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest MA: 10%	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 39% above MA	35 minLowest 22% above MA
Work from home	21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6%	13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Shirley and Halifax 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	#120 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Halifax
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.