What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).

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	Union
People
Population	6,976Highest	944Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.3±3.4Lowest 14% above U.S.	49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S.
	Union 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 U.S.: 22%	16.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Union 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 U.S.: 17.2%	24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Union 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%	24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shirley and Union 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.	$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S.	$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,481±$421 5% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,156Highest 65% above U.S.	$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Union 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#239 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Union School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.