Compare towns
Devens vs Quinebaug 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).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k 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 | Quinebaug | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Highest |
1,193 |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
44.2±14.6Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±6.4Highest 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. |
$105,181±$36kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$108,494±$62k 34% 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. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$395,800±$50k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
— | $982±$797Lowest 31% below 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. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$4,398 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±15 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% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Quinebaug 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 |
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.