Compare towns
Devens vs Salisbury vs Russell
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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k 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 | Salisbury | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
9,281Highest |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
47.7±7.6Lowest 19% above MA |
| Salisbury 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% |
13.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Salisbury and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Russell 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% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Salisbury 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 |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
| Devens and Russell 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 |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$303,300±$32kLowest 46% below MA |
| Devens and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Salisbury and Devens 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 |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Salisbury 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Salisbury 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Triton | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.