Compare towns
Devens vs Sutton vs Windsor Locks 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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Sutton | Windsor Locks | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
9,452 |
12,579Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Devens and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Sutton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Devens and Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Devens and Sutton 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. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$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 | $5,556 78% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Windsor Locks 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sutton | Windsor Locks School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.