Compare towns
Devens vs Saugus 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).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k 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 | Saugus | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
28,773Highest |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
44.2±14.6Lowest 11% above MA |
| Devens and Saugus 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% |
15.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±8.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Shirley and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Saugus 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 |
$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
$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±$96k about the MA average |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$395,800±$50kLowest 30% below MA |
| Saugus and Devens 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 |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$982±$797Lowest 44% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 7% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,398Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.3%±15Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Saugus 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% |
6% MA: 10% |
5.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±17.7 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #194 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Saugus | — |
| High school in town | — | Saugus High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.5 |
— |
| 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.