Compare towns
Devens vs Ogunquit vs Plainville vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Plainville has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Plainville | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
1,379Lowest |
9,943Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainville and Shirley 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 134% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| 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±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
— | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Devens 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | — | #102 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Plainville | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.