Compare towns
Devens vs Everett vs Lancaster 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).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Everett | Lancaster | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
50,045Highest |
8,606 |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.1±4.9 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±8.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$108,494±$62k 4% 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±$96k about the MA average |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$395,800±$50kLowest 30% below MA |
| Everett 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 |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$982±$797Lowest 44% below MA |
| Lancaster and Everett 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,398Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
44.3%±15Lowest 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% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±17.7 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 | — | #264 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Everett | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | — | Everett High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.