Compare towns
West Boylston vs Douglas vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Boylston has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | West Boylston | Douglas | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,782 |
9,207Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±2.7Highest 14% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
| West Boylston and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| West Boylston and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,551±$12kLowest about the MA average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,000±$24k 22% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Douglas and West Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,261±$154Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Douglas and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 about the MA average |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 14% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley and Douglas 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 | #97 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | West Boylston | Douglas | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | West Boylston Junior/Senior High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
7.2Lowest |
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| 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.