Compare towns
Devens vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Needham | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
32,459Highest |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.2±14.6 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±8.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$108,494±$62kLowest 4% 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$395,800±$50kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$982±$797Lowest 44% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,398Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
44.3%±15Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±17.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| 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.