Compare towns
Beverly vs Devens vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Beverly | Devens | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
1,723Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Beverly and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Devens 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Beverly High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.