Compare towns
Shirley vs Putnam 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
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Putnam | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976 |
9,292Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below 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. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.