What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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	Windham
People
Population	6,976Lowest	16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S.	41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Shirley and Windham 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%	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Shirley and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shirley and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,365±$16kLowest 52% above U.S.	$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S.	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,481±$421Lowest 5% above U.S.	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shirley and Windham 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%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windham 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	#13 of 120 in NH
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Windham School District
High school in town	None in town	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
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.