Compare towns
Devens vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
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 | Plainfield | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Highest |
616Lowest |
1,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44.2±14.6Lowest 11% above MA |
| Plainfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±8.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Plainfield 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$108,494±$62k 4% 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$395,800±$50k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$982±$797Lowest 44% below MA |
| Devens and Plainfield 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 |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$4,398Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.3%±15 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% |
5.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±17.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #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.