Written by AI Claude Sonnet 5.5 wrote this on 23 October 2026 from the figures here, a list of nearby places and what it knows. It can be wrong or out of date.

What it’s like

The place. Shirley is a very small community in Middlesex County, with far fewer people than most towns in the state. Household incomes in the county run high, and homes in Shirley are valued well above what many families across the country would expect to pay. Winters are cold, with January the coldest month and highs staying close to freezing, while July is warm. Rain and melted snow fall steadily through the year.

Work. Many residents work in schools, hospitals and social care, and others in professional and business services, manufacturing and shops. In Shirley itself, the largest workplaces include Bemis Associates, which makes film and packaging, Ripsaw Designs, a cabinet maker, and Community Resources for Justice, a social services organization. Across Middlesex County, unemployment is a little lower than a year ago, though there are somewhat fewer jobs than the year before.

Things to do. The Nashua River and the Squannacook River are both a short drive away, and the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge, a protected area, is close by too. For something indoors, the Fitchburg Art Museum is also a short drive from town. Walden Pond, a well-known reservoir, is a longer drive away.