Compare towns
Shirley vs Lancaster vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Lancaster | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
8,606 |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Shirley and Blackstone 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%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest 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±$16k 18% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below 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±$36k 24% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$404,400±$34kLowest 28% 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±$421 16% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below 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 |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Blackstone 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% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 39% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest 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 | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.6 |
| 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.