Compare towns
Devens vs Calais vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.8%).
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 | Calais | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Highest |
1,713 |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.2±14.6 14% above U.S. |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Calais 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 134% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$108,494±$62k 34% above U.S. |
| 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 67% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$395,800±$50k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$982±$797Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Devens and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 78% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,398Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±15Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Calais 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.