Compare towns
Shirley vs Central Falls vs Devens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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.
| Measure | Shirley | Central Falls | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976 |
22,701Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% 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 | 16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% 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 | $427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156 65% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Falls Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.