Compare towns
Shirley vs Ware vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Ware | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
10,048Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Shirley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Ayer 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 18% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
| Shirley and Ayer 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156Highest 14% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 39% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Ware | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.