The Town FilesShirley, Massachusetts
Community in Middlesex County · population 1,611 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $395,800
- Household income
- $108,494
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 44.2
Shirley is a community of 1,611 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $395,800, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for cycling than 85% of Massachusetts towns, better for retirees than 79% of Massachusetts towns, easier by car than 77% of Massachusetts towns.
How Shirley ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Shirley is worth $395,800, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $108,494, which is more affordable than 88% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $982 a month. 63.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shirley | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $395,800 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $982 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $108,494 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 63.2% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Shirley
| People | Shirley | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.4% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 21.3% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 31.5 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 93.9% |
Weather in Shirley
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 69.3 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shirley since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 3, 1970 about 7.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 4, 2015.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 926,104 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $113,704 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Shirley itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Towns near Shirley
- Devens, MA2.8 mi · 1,697 people · home $556,800
- Shirley, MA2.9 mi · 7,431 people · home $427,600
- Lancaster, MA3.7 mi · 8,441 people · home $519,100
- Lunenburg, MA4.2 mi · 11,782 people · home $463,900
- Ayer, MA4.6 mi · 2,986 people · home $444,600
- Harvard, MA4.6 mi · 6,851 people · home $833,600
- Lunenburg, MA5.0 mi · 1,789 people · home $494,800
- Ayer, MA5.1 mi · 8,479 people · home $463,800
Shirley questions
Is Shirley, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shirley scores better for retirees than 79% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 69%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Shirley?
The median owner-occupied home in Shirley is valued at $395,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,494, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $982 a month.
What is the weather like in Shirley?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 69.3 inches of snow.
Does Shirley get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shirley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 3, 1970. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)