The Town FilesDevens, Massachusetts
Community in Worcester County · population 1,697 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $556,800
- Household income
- $189,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 66 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 48.6
Devens is a community of 1,697 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $556,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for young professionals than 92% of Massachusetts towns, better for retirees than 79% of Massachusetts towns, more upscale than 74% of Massachusetts towns.
How Devens ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Devens is worth $556,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $189,250, which is more affordable than 99% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,500 a month. 79.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Devens | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $556,800 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,500 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $189,250 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 79.3% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Devens
| People | Devens | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 5.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.9% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.3% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 12.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.5% | — |
| Work from home | 28.5% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in Devens
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 66.0 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Devens since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 3, 1970 about 4.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 4, 2015.
Severe weather in Worcester County since 1996
Worcester County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4780: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Worcester County
Worcester County had 351,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,641 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Devens itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Devens
1 public school with 370 students, about 9.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School (charter) | 7-12 | 370 | 9.0 |
Towns near Devens
- Ayer, MA2.0 mi · 2,986 people · home $444,600
- Shirley, MA2.5 mi · 7,431 people · home $427,600
- Ayer, MA2.5 mi · 8,479 people · home $463,800
- Shirley, MA2.8 mi · 1,611 people · home $395,800
- Harvard, MA3.0 mi · 6,851 people · home $833,600
- Lancaster, MA5.2 mi · 8,441 people · home $519,100
- Groton, MA5.3 mi · 11,315 people · home $743,400
- Groton, MA5.3 mi · 1,353 people · home $758,500
Devens questions
Is Devens, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Devens scores better for retirees than 79% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 44%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.6).
How much does a house cost in Devens?
The median owner-occupied home in Devens is valued at $556,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $189,250, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,500 a month.
What is the weather like in Devens?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 66.0 inches of snow.
Does Devens get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Devens since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 3, 1970. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)