Shirley

Population: 1,256
Median home value: $378,700

Located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Shirley is a community with a population of 1,256. Its median home value of $378,700 runs below the Middlesex County figure of $687,200.

From 2019 to 2023, Shirley's population declined 32.5% from 1,861 to 1,256, while its median home value rose 46.4% from $258,600 to $378,700.

White (non-Hispanic) residents are the largest group, 88.1% of the population. 65.2% of workers drive to work alone.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 1,256
Median age: 44.2 yrs
Median household income: —
Median home value: $378,700
Median gross rent: —
Housing units: 583
Homeownership rate: 66.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 41.5%
Unemployment rate: 8.1%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

1,8611,256

Median household income

$65,507$85,119

Median home value

$258,600$378,700

Median gross rent

$777$927

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	1,861	$65,507	$258,600	$777
2020	1,716	$61,797	$259,600	$810
2021	1,707	$78,783	$273,800	$831
2022	1,359	$85,119	$337,400	$927
2023	1,256	—	$378,700	—

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 58.4%

5 to 179.2%

18 to 244.9%

25 to 3410.4%

35 to 4420.9%

45 to 546.4%

55 to 6425.3%

65 to 7410.5%

75 and over4.1%

	Count	Share
Under 5	106	8.4%
5 to 17	116	9.2%
18 to 24	61	4.9%
25 to 34	130	10.4%
35 to 44	262	20.9%
45 to 54	80	6.4%
55 to 64	318	25.3%
65 to 74	132	10.5%
75 and over	51	4.1%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	1,106	88.1%
Black or African American	27	2.1%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0	0.0%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	0	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	123	9.8%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma0.0%

High school graduate28.3%

Some college or associate's30.2%

Bachelor's degree27.4%

Graduate or professional degree14.1%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	0	0.0%
High school graduate	275	28.3%
Some college or associate's	294	30.2%
Bachelor's degree	267	27.4%
Graduate or professional degree	137	14.1%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 36 min

Drove alone65.2%

Carpooled7.4%

Public transit1.8%

Walked0.0%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home25.5%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	465	65.2%
Carpooled	53	7.4%
Public transit	13	1.8%
Walked	0	0.0%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	182	25.5%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	90	16.9%
15 to 29 min	140	26.4%
30 to 44 min	139	26.2%
45 to 59 min	57	10.7%
60+ min	105	19.8%

Households

Average household size: 2.15
Poverty rate: 4.2% (53 of 1,256)

	Count	Share
Family households	301	51.6%
Nonfamily households	282	48.4%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1938

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	583	100.0%
Vacant	0	0.0%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	387	66.4%
Renter-occupied	196	33.6%

1-unit, detached64.5%

1-unit, attached1.9%

2 to 4 units0.0%

5 to 19 units33.6%

20 or more units0.0%

Mobile home & other0.0%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	376	64.5%
1-unit, attached	11	1.9%
2 to 4 units	0	0.0%
5 to 19 units	196	33.6%
20 or more units	0	0.0%
Mobile home & other	0	0.0%

Geography

Place GEOID: 2561555
Type (LSAD): 57
Land area: 1.32 sq mi
Water area: 0.02 sq mi
Center point: 42.5365, -71.6674