Compare towns
Shirley vs Upton vs Windsor Locks vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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.
| Measure | Shirley | Upton | Windsor Locks | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
8,189 |
12,579Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 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±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Groton and Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Groton 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. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Windsor Locks School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Windsor Locks High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
8.9Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.