Compare towns
Townsend vs Shirley vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Townsend | Shirley | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
6,976Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
| Shirley and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Lunenburg 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% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest 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±$23k 17% above MA |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% 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±$22k 23% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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±$421 16% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 about the MA average |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,401Highest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
36 minLowest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley and Lunenburg 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 | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.