Population 38,736 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Shrewsbury
Household size in Shrewsbury
| Period | Shrewsbury | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.71 | 2.59 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.79 | 2.62 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.77 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.66 | 2.56 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.66 people per household, Shrewsbury sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in the Worcester area as a whole, where it has 2.56 people. Household size has edged down from 2.71 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Shrewsbury
| Period | Shrewsbury | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6 | 39.1 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.0 | 39.8 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.0 | 40.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.5 | 41.1 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.0 | +2.0 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
At 41.5, the median age in Shrewsbury is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 38.6 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Shrewsbury
| Period | Shrewsbury | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 10.8% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 11.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.9% of households in Shrewsbury, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 0.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Shrewsbury
Renters in Shrewsbury
| Period | Shrewsbury | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.6% | 32.4% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.3% | 34.8% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.5% | 34.9% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.8% | 34.2% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Shrewsbury own their homes; 27.8% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Just over a third of owners (34.9%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southwest and least common in the north. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.2 points, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Shrewsbury
| Period | Shrewsbury | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 9.2% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 8.5% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 6.8% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Shrewsbury: just 5.1% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy has edged down 0.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Shrewsbury
| Period | Shrewsbury | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1961 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1973 | 1962 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1964 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1965 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Shrewsbury was built around 1978, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in the Worcester area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1965. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Shrewsbury
| Period | Shrewsbury | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,135 | $930 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,355 | $1,008 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,459 | $1,155 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,217 | $1,549 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,082 | +$619 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Shrewsbury costs $2,217 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,082 a month from 2006–10, a 95% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 33.3% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Shrewsbury
Bachelor's degrees in Shrewsbury
| Period | Shrewsbury | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 56.9% | 33.1% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 55.3% | 34.5% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 59.6% | 36.5% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 65.1% | 39.8% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | +6.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Shrewsbury: 65.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.1 points, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Shrewsbury
| Period | Shrewsbury | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.4% | 88.4% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.8% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.2% | 90.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.7% | 90.9% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +2.5 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Shrewsbury: 95.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is little changed from 2006–10, while the national rate rose.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Shrewsbury
| Period | Shrewsbury | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 7.7% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 8.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.1% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Shrewsbury has been low: just 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only ten of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 2.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Shrewsbury compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shrewsbury | 2.66 | 41.5 | 6.9% | 27.8% | 5.1% | 1978 | $2,217 | 65.1% | 95.7% | 2.1% |
| Morningdale | 2.48 | 46.1 | 4.8% | 24.3% | 3.5% | 1979 | $1,993 | 62.4% | 97.1% | 4.3% |
| Boylston | 2.49 | 48.7 | 5.3% | 20.5% | 2.1% | 1973 | $1,951 | 52.9% | 95.2% | 3.6% |
| North Grafton | 2.61 | 39.8 | 7.7% | 18.5% | 4.0% | 1973 | $1,556 | 55.9% | 95.7% | 5.5% |
| Northborough | 2.64 | 43.3 | 5.1% | 17.5% | 5.1% | 1980 | $2,056 | 65.3% | 98.0% | 4.9% |
| Worcester area | 2.56 | 41.1 | 11.7% | 34.2% | 6.8% | 1965 | $1,549 | 39.8% | 90.9% | 5.3% |
| Westborough | 2.71 | 40.0 | 6.5% | 37.9% | 6.0% | 1977 | $2,368 | 66.1% | 95.9% | 4.4% |
| West Berlin | 2.41 | 48.5 | 5.0% | 24.1% | 2.8% | 1986 | $2,215 | 55.9% | 97.3% | 4.2% |
| Grafton | 2.65 | 41.7 | 5.3% | 26.9% | 4.0% | 1988 | $1,571 | 62.2% | 96.1% | 2.3% |
| West Boylston | 2.29 | 46.3 | 7.0% | 22.1% | 5.5% | 1968 | $1,210 | 43.2% | 92.8% | 4.5% |
| Millbury | 2.50 | 42.5 | 11.2% | 24.8% | 5.1% | 1967 | $1,801 | 36.5% | 96.0% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Willis, TX · West Babylon, NY · Clementon, NJ · Channelview, TX · Carpentersville, IL · Carlsbad, NM · Calexico, CA · Brighton, NY · Braintree Town, MA · Blackwood, NJ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Shrewsbury. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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