Compare towns
Devens vs Harvard 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Harvard | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
6,927Highest |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
44.1±4.7Lowest 10% 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% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±8.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Harvard 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% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$63k 82% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$108,494±$62kLowest 4% above MA |
| Harvard and Devens 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 |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$395,800±$50kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$982±$797Lowest 44% below MA |
| Devens and Harvard 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,398Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
44.3%±15Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Harvard 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% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±17.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard 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 | — | #12 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Harvard | — |
| High school in town | — | The Bromfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.