Compare towns
Devens vs Lancaster vs Needham
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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
8,606 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Devens and Lancaster 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%±4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Needham 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Needham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Needham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.