Compare towns
Devens vs Lancaster vs Ware 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Ware | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
8,606Highest |
6,369 |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±3.4 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Lancaster 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% |
17.4%±3.9 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest 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% |
3.7%±1.9 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$122,365±$16k 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
| Devens and Lancaster 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 |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Lancaster and Devens 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Lowest 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% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.