What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.8%).

Devens has the highest household income ($189k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Shirley	Devens
People
Population	1,146Lowest	1,723Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.2±14.6Lowest 11% above MA	48.6±4.3Highest 22% 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	18.4%±8.8Highest MA: 19.4%	5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9%	14%±5Lowest 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+	47.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	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	$108,494±$62kLowest 4% above MA	$189,250±$63kHighest 82% 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	$395,800±$50kLowest 30% below MA	$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$982±$797Lowest 44% below MA	$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA
	Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,398Lowest 27% below MA	$5,556Highest 7% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±15Lowest MA: 51.8%	85.4%±64.7Highest 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	5.9%Lowest MA: 10%	25.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 8% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	21.3%±17.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	28.5%±11.5Highest 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	#239 of 282 in MA	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.