Compare towns
Devens vs Epping vs Shirley vs Russell
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% rent).
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k median).
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 | Epping | Shirley | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
7,430Highest |
6,976 |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.7±7.6 23% above U.S. |
| Devens and Russell 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% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.3Lowest 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$108,750±$24k 35% 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. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$303,300±$32kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Devens and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
$1,013±$330Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Epping and Devens 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$5,104Lowest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #239 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.