What stands out worked out from the figures below

Devens has the highest household income ($189k).

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Devens	Mendon
People
Population	1,723Highest	1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S.	53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S.
	Mendon and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mendon and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Devens and Mendon 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 134% above U.S.	$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S.	$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S.	$1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S.
	Devens and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,556Highest 78% above U.S.	$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±64.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Devens and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.