Compare towns
Devens vs Dudley vs Ware 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).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Dudley | Ware | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.2±14.6 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 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±8.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Dudley 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
47.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8%±6.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dudley and Shirley 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 |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$108,494±$62k 4% 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 |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$395,800±$50k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$982±$797Lowest 44% below MA |
| Devens and Dudley 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,398 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.3%±15Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Ware 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
5.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | — |
| High school in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.