What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

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	Hanson
People
Population	6,976Lowest	10,660Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA	42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA
	Shirley and Hanson 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%	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson 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%	19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Shirley and Hanson 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 MA: 47.3%	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Shirley and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA	$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA
	Hanson and Shirley 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	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA
	Hanson 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	$6,402Highest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Shirley 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 39% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#239 of 282 in MA	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	None in town	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.