Compare towns
Shirley vs Hull 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Hull has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
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 | Hull | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976 |
10,138Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Shirley and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Shirley 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% |
50.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 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 | $122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% 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 | $427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Hull and Devens 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 |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Hull 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 |
$6,089Highest about the MA average |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Lowest 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 39% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.