Compare towns
Devens vs Bernardston vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Devens | Bernardston | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
2,164 |
6,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA |
| Bernardston and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Bernardston and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below 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 | $556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$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 | $1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,283±$553Lowest 27% 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 | $5,556Highest 7% below MA |
$4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest 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 | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest 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 | — | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Pioneer Valley | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.