Devens, MA

Devens is a master-planned community in north-central Massachusetts, built on the grounds of the former Fort Devens military base. Spread across sections of Ayer, Shirley, and Harvard, the area features quiet residential neighborhoods surrounded by expansive green space and modern business parks. Residents have easy access to walking trails along the Nashua River, rounds at Red Tail Golf Club, and a steadily growing job market in tech and healthcare.

ATTRJohn Phelan / CC BY-SA 3.0

For families, one of the biggest draws is education. Local children attend the highly ranked Harvard public school district, and the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School sits right in town. Day-to-day services are shared with surrounding towns, while the commuter rail station in neighboring Ayer makes trips into Boston straightforward. Major highways like Route 2 also put Worcester, Lowell, and regional medical centers within an easy drive.