Compare towns
Shirley vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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.
| Measure | Shirley | Lancaster | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976 |
8,606Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% 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% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Shirley 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Devens and Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
| Devens and Lancaster 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 39% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None 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.