Compare towns
Shirley vs Woonsocket vs Ayer vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Woonsocket | Ayer | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
43,521Highest |
8,645 |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Townsend 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Townsend 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% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Townsend 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Woonsocket 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Townsend 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Townsend 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Townsend 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #113 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Ayer Shirley School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
11.5Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.