Compare towns
Devens vs Dummerston vs Middlesex 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).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Dummerston | Middlesex | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
2,090 |
1,943 |
6,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Devens and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 134% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% 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. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| 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 6% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Devens and Shirley 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. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Middlesex 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.