Compare towns
Devens vs Lowell 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).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Lowell | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
118,368Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
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% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Devens 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% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Devens and Shirley 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 |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
| Lowell and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Highest 7% below MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest 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% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
9.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Shirley 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lowell | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | Lowell High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.