Compare towns
Devens vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
207,055Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Devens 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% 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±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
| Devens and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Highest 7% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Shirley 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% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
9.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| 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.