Shirley, Massachusetts
Shirley is a community of 1,146 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Why visit Shirley
Townapedia lists 13 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails, 6 places to eat and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Hazen Hill, The Major Hills, Fort Devens Historic District and Fruitlands.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 16°F.
Weather in Shirley
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Shirley
Shirley is a census-designated place (CDP) comprising the main village in the town of Shirley in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,611 at the 2020 census, out of 7,431 in the entire town of Shirley.
From the Wikipedia article Shirley (CDP), Massachusetts (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Museums and landmarks13
Fort Devens Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Fruitlands
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Commune in Massachusetts
James Parker House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Building in Massachusetts, United States
Shirley Center Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Shirley Shaker Village
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Shirley, Massachusetts, listed on the NRHP
Shirley Village Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
The Veterans of Shirley For Honorable Service During The Korean War
Monument and historic site · 1.2 mi
The Veterans Of Shirley For Honorable Service During The Vietnam War
Monument and historic site · 1.2 mi
1 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
Restaurants and cafes6
The Phoenix Bar and Grill
Restaurant · 0.9 mi
4 Ayer Road, Shirley
Tu-We 14:00-21:00; Th-Sa 11:00-21:00
Churches and places of worship4
Shopping1
Schools, colleges and libraries34
Advanced Community Experience Program
School · 5.0 mi
1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg
Center For Technical Education Innovation
School · 5.7 mi
122 Granite Street, Leominster
Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School
School · 3.2 mi
49 Antietam St, Devens
Map of Shirley
66 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 16°F | 2.6 in |
| Feb | 37°F | 17°F | 2.8 in |
| Mar | 45°F | 25°F | 3.8 in |
| Apr | 58°F | 35°F | 3.8 in |
| May | 70°F | 46°F | 3.6 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 4.1 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 3.5 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 60°F | 3.4 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 4.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 40°F | 4.5 in |
| Nov | 50°F | 30°F | 3.6 in |
| Dec | 40°F | 22°F | 3.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Fitchburg Muni Ap (5 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Middlesex County has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2023-09-15: Hurricane Lee (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-07-19: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2015-04-13: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2013-04-19: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Minute Man Airfield (MMN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Devens 3 mi east, about 4 min by car
- Leominster 5 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Ayer 5 mi northeast, about 7 min by car
- Lunenburg 5 mi northwest, about 8 min by car
- South Lancaster 7 mi south, about 11 min by car
- Groton 7 mi northeast, about 12 min by car
- Clinton 8 mi south, about 13 min by car
- Fitchburg 9 mi northwest, about 14 min by car
- Littleton Common 10 mi east, about 16 min by car
- Hudson 11 mi southeast, about 18 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- The United Church of Shirley, Shirley MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Postcard of East Main Street, Shirley, Massachusetts, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Shirley station with streetcar postcard, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Train passing the Davis Block, Shirley MA, John Phelan, CC BY 4.0
- MBTA Fitchburg Line train 438 at Shirley August 2026, 4300streetcar, CC BY 4.0
- MBTA Fitchburg Line train 438 departing Shirley August 2026, 4300streetcar, CC BY 4.0
- MBTA Shirley station August 2026 2, 4300streetcar, CC BY 4.0
- MBTA Shirley station shelter interior August 2026, 4300streetcar, CC BY 4.0
- MBTA Shirley station August 2026 1, 4300streetcar, CC BY 4.0
- Shelter at Shirley station (2), July 2021, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- MBTA Shirley station shelter August 2026, 4300streetcar, CC BY 4.0
- Interior of shelter at Shirley station, July 2021, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shelter at Shirley station (1), July 2021, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Old Shirley Common, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- ShirleyMA JamesParkerHouse, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fruit lands Alcott house, 2015 2, victorgrigas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- DevensMA 01, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ministry Shop, Shirley Shaker Village MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fredonian Panorama Late Summer, Bob Burkhardt, CC BY 3.0
- Fredonian Panorama Winter, Bob Burkhardt, CC BY 3.0
- Day one with the HET.jpg - panoramio, talllguy, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.