Compare towns
Devens vs Putnam vs Danielson 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).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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.
| Measure | Devens | Putnam | Danielson | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
9,292Highest |
4,209 |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Danielson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Shirley 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. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below 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±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Devens and Shirley 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Shirley 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.