Compare towns
Shirley vs Suffield vs Windsor Locks vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
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 | Suffield | Windsor Locks | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
15,702Highest |
12,579 |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Suffield and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Shirley 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. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| 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 5% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Shirley and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156 65% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Suffield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
8.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.