Shirley, Massachusetts
Among the top 1% of US places for safety & wellbeing.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 16% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 37% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade A+, better than 99% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 81% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade A, better than 88% of US places
- top 3% for natural disaster risk
- top 10% for broadband access
- bottom 2% for cost of living
Shirley is a small community in Massachusetts with about 1,359 residents. It grades A+ for safety & wellbeing and D for affordability. Standout strengths include natural disaster risk, broadband access, and amenities nearby. It rates lower on annual snowfall and cost of living.
- The median home value in Shirley is $337k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Shirley is $85k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Shirley is $927 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Shirley has a violent crime rate of 415/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- July temperatures in Shirley average around 72°F, per the NOAA nClimGrid.
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
very cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
comf.
cool
cold
v.cold
67%53%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.0 in3.0 in
humid 74%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$85k76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$79kbetter than 2% of US places
Home Value$337k81st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$927better than 48% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$403better than 41% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.24%better than 37% of US places
Income Tax9.00%better than 17% of US places
Sales Tax6.25%better than 81% of US places
Estimated total tax burden15.98%better than 14% of US places
Unemployment6.9%better than 25% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)25°F24th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)72°F26th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation43.4 in55th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall75.2 inbetter than 5% of US places
Sunny Days230 daysbetter than 46% of US places
Summer Humidity60°Fbetter than 71% of US places
Comfortable Days84 daysbetter than 55% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk16.8better than 97% of US places
Air Quality40 AQIbetter than 75% of US places
School Quality94.0better than 83% of US places
Violent Crime415/100kbetter than 70% of US places
Property Crime249/100kbetter than 80% of US places
Community
Population1,35957th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age53.184th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.0927th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.1579th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+464th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)92.0%67th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.0%22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)8.0%68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.0%27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)0.0%8th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Walkability7.0/20better than 58% of US places
Airport Distance35 mibetter than 78% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access97.6%better than 90% of US places
Amenities Nearby529.80better than 85% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 40% of US places
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Shirley an affordable place to live?
- Shirley is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $79k, better than 2% of comparable areas. Median rent is $927.
- Is Shirley safe?
- Shirley is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 415/100k (better than 70%). Property crime is 249/100k.
- What is the weather like in Shirley?
- Shirley averages 72°F in July and 25°F in January, with 43.4 in of annual precipitation and about 230 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Shirley?
- Public-school quality in Shirley is above average, scoring better than 83% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.