Compare towns
Shirley vs Norfolk vs Ayer
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 most affordable homes ($428k median).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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.
| Measure | Shirley | Norfolk | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
11,673Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Shirley and Norfolk 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% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Ayer 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% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Ayer 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% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Ayer 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 |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
| Norfolk and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156 14% below MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 9.9% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 39% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Ayer 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | King Philip · Millis | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.