Compare towns
Harvard vs Everett vs Devens vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Devens has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Harvard | Everett | Devens | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
50,045Highest |
1,723Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above 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 | 21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Everett and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Devens 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Everett | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Everett High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.