What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).

Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).

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	Lancaster
People
Population	6,976Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA
	Shirley and Lancaster 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%	19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Lancaster 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 MA: 47.3%	50.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Shirley and Lancaster 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	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA
	Lancaster 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	$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA
	Lancaster 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	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA
	Lancaster 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	$7,235Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster 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%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 39% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lancaster 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	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Nashoba
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.