Compare towns
Devens vs Harvard vs Windham 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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Harvard | Windham | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
6,927 |
23,961Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Windham 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% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Harvard 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% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| 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 67% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,633Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Harvard | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | The Bromfield High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.