What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).

Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).

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	Townsend	Shirley
People
Population	9,100Highest	6,976Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average	44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA
	Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	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+	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	36.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA	$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA
	Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA
	Townsend and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA	$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA
	Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$5,156Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%	9.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minLowest 27% above MA	40 minHighest 39% above MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Shirley and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.