Compare towns
Devens vs Lancaster vs Maynard 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Lancaster | Maynard | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
8,606 |
10,712Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
| Devens and Maynard 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% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 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% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest 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±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% 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 |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Devens and Maynard 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
| Lancaster and Maynard 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 |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Maynard | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Maynard High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.7 |
— |
| 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.