Compare towns
Devens vs North Reading 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).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.8%).
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 | North Reading | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
15,765Highest |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±8.8 MA: 19.4% |
| North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| North Reading 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% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8%±6.4Highest 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 |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$108,494±$62kLowest 4% above MA |
| Devens and North Reading 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 |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$395,800±$50kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$982±$797Lowest 44% below MA |
| North Reading 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 |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$4,398Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.3%±15Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and North Reading 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±17.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and North Reading 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 | — | #33 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Reading | — |
| High school in town | — | North Reading High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.