Shirley, MA Demographics

A map of Shirley's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	1,020	1,305	89.0%	81.0%
Hispanic	91	106	7.9%	6.6%
Black	35	40	3.1%	2.5%
Asian	0	33	0.0%	2.0%
Native American/Other	0	26	0.0%	1.6%
Multiracial	0	101	0.0%	6.3%

Shirley, Massachusetts has an estimated population of 1,146, a large decrease from the 1,611 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 89.0% White, 7.9% Hispanic, 3.1% Black, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Native American/Other, and 0.0% Multiracial. This demographic dot map shows the population of Shirley, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Shirley has become considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Massachusetts overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Shirley, that probability was 33.4% in 2020 and 20.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Shirley is ranked the 222nd most populous place in Massachusetts, out of 248 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Shirley was ranked the 207th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Shirley's White Population

1,020 residents of Shirley, or 89.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Shirley is significantly higher than in Massachusetts overall, where 66.6% of the population is White. Shirley ranks 158th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 248 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shirley's White population has declined by an estimated 21.8%. White residents' share of Shirley's population has increased from 81.0% to 89.0%.

Shirley is more White than neighboring Devens (60.5% White), Ayer (71.2% White), Lunenburg (80% White), South Lancaster (74.3% White), and Groton (79.5% White).

Shirley's Black Population

35 residents of Shirley, or 3.1% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Shirley is slightly lower than in Massachusetts overall, where 6.4% of the population is Black. Shirley ranks 90th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 248 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shirley's Black population has declined by an estimated 12.5%. Black residents' share of Shirley's population has increased from 2.5% to 3.1%.

Shirley is more Black than neighboring South Lancaster (1.3% Black), and Groton (2.9% Black). Shirley is less Black than neighboring Devens (17.4% Black), Ayer (6.6% Black), and Lunenburg (3.6% Black).

Shirley's Asian Population

0 residents of Shirley, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Shirley is lower than in Massachusetts overall, where 7.3% of the population is Asian. Shirley ranks 110th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 248 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shirley's Asian population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Shirley's population has decreased from 2.0% to 0.0%.

Shirley is less Asian than neighboring Devens (4% Asian), Ayer (6.9% Asian), Lunenburg (3.6% Asian), and Groton (3.4% Asian).

Shirley's Hispanic Population

91 residents of Shirley, or 7.9% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Shirley is lower than in Massachusetts overall, where 13.3% of the population is Hispanic. Shirley ranks 71st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 248 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shirley's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 14.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Shirley's population has increased from 6.6% to 7.9%.

Shirley is more Hispanic than neighboring Lunenburg (3.3% Hispanic), and Groton (5.9% Hispanic). Shirley is less Hispanic than neighboring Devens (15% Hispanic), Ayer (13.8% Hispanic), and South Lancaster (20.6% Hispanic).

Shirley's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Shirley, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Shirley is comparable to the share in Massachusetts overall, where 1.3% of the population is Native American/Other. Shirley ranks 50th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 248 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shirley's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Shirley's population has decreased from 1.6% to 0.0%.

Shirley is less Native American/Other than neighboring Devens (2.3% Native American/Other), and Groton (2.5% Native American/Other).

Shirley's Multiracial Population

0 residents of Shirley, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Shirley is lower than in Massachusetts overall, where 5.1% of the population is Multiracial. Shirley ranks 27th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 248 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shirley's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Shirley's population has decreased from 6.3% to 0.0%.

Shirley is less Multiracial than neighboring Devens (0.9% Multiracial), Ayer (1.4% Multiracial), Lunenburg (9.5% Multiracial), South Lancaster (3.8% Multiracial), and Groton (5.7% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.