Devens: Demographics & People
Devens's population stands at 1,723 people, in 232 households. Population shrank 7.9% from 1,871 (2022) to 1,723 (2024). Median age 48.6 years. (8.4y older than Worcester County; 10.0y older than Massachusetts). Children under 18 are 6% of the population. Population is 60% White (non-Hispanic) and 17% Black. 60% of households are family-led. County is losing 32,915 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 22% adult obesity, 8% smoke.
- 7.4 people per household (vs Massachusetts avg 2.6).
- 40% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Massachusetts 40%).
- 24 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Massachusetts 59).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 7.9% from 1,871 (2022) to 1,723 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~1,589 (extrapolated at -4.0%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,421.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,632,002 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -7.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,871 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,723 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 1,723 people (vs Massachusetts 59,354) |
| Population Estimate | 1,421 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 48.6y is 9.7 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 6% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 48.6 years (vs Massachusetts 38.6y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 5.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,723 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 94 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 404.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 984.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 241 |
| Population under 18 | 94 |
| Median age | 48.6 years (vs Massachusetts 38.6y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 1,723 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 1,152 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 497 |
| Asian residents | 156 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 248 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 44.1% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | moderately diverse |
| Asian population | 4.0% (vs Massachusetts 6.2%) |
| Black population | 17.4% (vs Massachusetts 5.4%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 15.0% (vs Massachusetts 12.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 60.5% (vs Massachusetts 63.9%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 2.8% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 12% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 482 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 995 |
| Share born in this state | 28.0% |
| Share born in another state | 72.0% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 57.7% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 11.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 381 |
| From Europe | 56 |
| From Africa | 126 |
| From Latin America | 11 |
Households & Family Composition
232 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 60% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 194 families, 40% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 196 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 194 |
| Married couples with children | 77 |
| Single-parent households | 17 |
| Average household size | 2.52 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 6.3% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 13,583 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 5,226 |
| Family households | 140 households (vs Massachusetts 13,595) |
| Households that are families | 60.3% (at Massachusetts median) |
| Total households | 232 households (vs Massachusetts 24,424) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 54.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 32,915 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 54.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 1,462,463 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 1,495,378 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -32,915 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 1,216 residents live in group quarters (70.6% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 1,216 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 3 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 25017 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 25 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 017 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Middlesex |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 3.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 3.40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 3.90 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 25017 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Middlesex County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 41,440 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 25017 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Middlesex County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 95.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 85.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 62.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 1,611,699 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 1 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 5.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,723, shrinking, established, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,723 people (vs Massachusetts 59,354) |
| Town Summary · County | Middlesex County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade