Compare towns
Shirley vs Sutton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Sutton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
9,452 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$16k 18% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Shirley and Webster 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 39% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Sutton | Webster |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.