What stands out worked out from the figures below

Southwick has the shortest commute (29 min average).

Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Southwick	Shirley
People
Population	9,217Highest	6,976Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±1.8Highest 17% above MA	44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA
	Southwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Southwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Southwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	36.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Shirley and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,462±$16kLowest 16% above MA	$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA
	Shirley and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$397,500±$27kLowest 29% below MA	$427,600±$36kHighest 24% below MA
	Shirley and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,332±$72Lowest 24% below MA	$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA
	Shirley and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,331Highest 11% below MA	$5,156Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Shirley and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest MA: 10%	9.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	40 minHighest 39% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Shirley and Southwick 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	#211 of 282 in MA	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Southwick Regional School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.