Compare towns
Devens vs Lexington 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).
Lexington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Lexington | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
34,295Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA |
| Devens and Lexington 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% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Lexington 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% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest 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±$63k 82% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Lexington 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 |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Shirley 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington 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 | — | #2 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lexington | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | Lexington High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.