Compare towns
Devens vs Windham vs Hampton 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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
Shirley has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Windham | Hampton | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
23,961Highest |
1,647 |
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. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.2±14.6 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Hampton 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% |
14.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±6.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$108,494±$62k 34% above U.S. |
| Devens and Hampton 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. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$395,800±$50k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,107±$69 22% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$982±$797Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Devens and Hampton 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. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,398 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±15Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Windham 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% |
20.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 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 | — | #143 of 149 in CT | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Hampton School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.