Compare towns
Shirley vs Douglas vs Devens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
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 | Douglas | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976 |
9,207Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% 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 | 16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Devens and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
| Devens and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Douglas and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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 | 9.9% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 39% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Douglas | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.