Compare towns
Devens vs Winchester 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).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
Shirley has the most kids (18.4% under 18).
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 | Winchester | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
10,284Highest |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.2±14.6Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Winchester 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shirley and Winchester 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below 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. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$395,800±$50k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$982±$797Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Devens and Winchester 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. |
$4,780 53% above U.S. |
$4,398Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±15Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Winchester 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% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Highest 25 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% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±17.7 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 | — | #97 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | — |
| High school in town | — | Northwestern Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— |
| 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.