What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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	Windsor Locks
People
Population	6,976Lowest	12,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S.	41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Shirley and Windsor Locks 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%	18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Windsor Locks and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Shirley and Windsor Locks 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%	28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.8Highest 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±$16kHighest 52% above U.S.	$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S.	$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S.	$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average
	Shirley and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,156Highest 65% above U.S.	$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±16.8Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Shirley and Windsor Locks 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	#109 of 149 in CT
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Windsor Locks School District
High school in town	None in town	Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.9
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.