Compare towns
Shirley vs Hull vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Hull has the most expensive homes ($646k 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 | Hull | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
10,138Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Townsend 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 |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| 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±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Hull 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 |
$6,089Highest about the MA average |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Hull 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 39% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley and Hull 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hull | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Hull High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.