Compare towns
Devens vs Windsor Locks vs Ayer 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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Shirley has the most renters (36.8% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Ayer | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
12,579Highest |
8,645 |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.2±14.6 14% above U.S. |
| Devens and Shirley 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer 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% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Shirley 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,875±$15k 26% above 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$395,800±$50k 19% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer 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. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$982±$797Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,398 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±15Lowest 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±17.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Ayer 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windsor Locks School District | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.