What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Pepperell has the most kids (20.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Shirley	Pepperell
People
Population	6,976Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA
	Shirley and Pepperell 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%	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell 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%	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Shirley and Pepperell 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%	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA
	Pepperell 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	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA
	Shirley and Pepperell 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	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Shirley and Pepperell 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%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 39% above MA	34 minLowest 16% above MA
Work from home	21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Shirley and Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	North Middlesex
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.