What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Shirley	Rowley
People
Population	6,976Highest	6,251Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA	50±6.3Highest 25% above MA
	Rowley and Shirley 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%	19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Rowley 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%	21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Rowley 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%	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Shirley and Rowley 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	$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA
	Rowley 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	$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA	$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA
	Rowley 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	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Rowley 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%	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	81.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 39% above MA	28 minLowest 3% below MA
Work from home	21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6%	11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Shirley and Rowley 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	#214 of 282 in MA
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Triton
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.