Compare towns
Shirley vs Thompson vs Townsend
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 most people working from home (21%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
9,337Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Townsend 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Townsend 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Townsend 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Thompson School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.