Compare towns
Devens vs Dedham 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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Dedham | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
25,237Highest |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.2±14.6Lowest 11% above MA |
| Devens and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±8.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$108,494±$62kLowest 4% above MA |
| Devens and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$395,800±$50kLowest 30% below MA |
| Dedham and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$982±$797Lowest 44% below MA |
| Dedham and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 7% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,398Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
44.3%±15Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Dedham 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% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±17.7 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| 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.