What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).

Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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	Putnam
People
Population	6,976Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam 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 U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shirley and Putnam 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 52% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,156Highest 65% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#239 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Putnam School District
High school in town	None in town	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.