Compare towns
Barre vs Devens vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barre | Devens | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
1,723Lowest |
6,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$5,556Highest 7% below MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.