Compare towns
Devens vs Erving vs Lancaster
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).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Erving | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
1,703Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Devens and Erving 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% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Lancaster 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 |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Devens and Lancaster 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 |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Devens and Lancaster 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 |
$1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Lancaster 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Devens 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 | — | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Erving | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.