Compare towns
Shirley vs Sturbridge vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Sturbridge | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
| Ayer and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
| Shirley and Ayer 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 |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 39% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.