New homes and new businesses have transformed Devens
The central Massachusetts neighborhood of Devens sits between the towns of Shirley, Ayer, Harvard and Lancaster. Formerly the site of Fort Devens, a U.S. Army training site built in 1917, it was closed in the 1980s and much of the land was sold in the 1990s. The surrounding community dedicated efforts to turn Devens into a thriving residential and business community. Since the late 1990s, the area has been transformed with subdivisions, business parks, hotels, restaurants, and a golf course. The remaining 57 acres that belong to the U.S. Army are occupied today by the David S. Connolly Armed Forces Reserve Center.
Today, the neighborhood of Devens, located in Worcester County, is home to about 1,700 residents and about 200 single-family homes, with more coming online monthly. Cyndi Deshaies, Realtor with Lamacchia Realty, Inc., and a Boston area real estate agent for six years explains the appeal of Devens, “Although much of the housing in Devens is fairly new, the neighborhood benefits from established assets like the strong school district, its proximity to historic Shirley, and having a nearby train station that goes right into Boston.”
Newer builds are popping up all over Devens.
Townhomes are a great option in Devens for those looking for something different.
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Local shops and new cafes delight shoppers
Locals stop by Shop ‘n Save for produce, organic foods and weekly specials. Mornings are a great time to stop by Ruby Donut to treat the kids or your coworkers. Deven’s Pizza and Deli offers homemade Greek pizza and meatball subs. Marty’s Corner Café is a great place to enjoy lunch at one of their sunny indoor or outdoor tables. Aubuchon Hardware has everything a new homeowner could need for their garage including shovels and snow blowers.
Marty's Corner Cafe is a tasty lunch spot in Devens.
The chicken ceasar wrap at Marty's Corner Cafe in Devens is a thing of legend.
Aubuchon Hardware in Devens has something for all your home improvement needs.
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Residents stay as busy as they want to be in Devens
Devens offers a year-round calendar of events that includes Easter Egg Hunts, yard sales, food festivals and family fun days at Mirror Lake. Yoga fans clearly enjoy “Yoga on Rogers” held at Rogers Field Complex during the summer. The community also hosts several 5k races throughout the year. Weekends are a good time to visit popular small towns including Stockbridge, the childhood home of Normal Rockwell.
Two-story townhouses and New Traditional homes welcome buyers
Homeseekers will find new and recently built Colonial Revival as well as New Traditional homes in Devens. Two-story townhouses with attached garages are also popular in new subdivisions. Homes feature front porches, with well-landscaped front yards and sidewalks. While the median price for single-family homes as of mid-December 2023 was about $730,000, New Traditional, three-bedroom SMART homes from 2013 have recently sold for around $560,000. Brand new, energy-efficient, two-story townhouses in a planned community, facing a creek-fed pond, have sold for $685,000.
Well manicured landscaping comes standard in Devens.
Many homes in Devens come with front porches.
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Harvard district schools are highly-ranked
Kids in Devens can attend public schools in the Harvard school district with an overall Niche grade of A-plus. The Harvard district is rated the No. 3 best school district in Worcester County. Hildreth Elementary has an overall Niche grade of A and is rated the No. 5 best public elementary school in the county. The Bromfield School is a public school offering grades 6-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1. It has an overall Niche grade of A and is ranked the No. 2 best public middle school in Worcester County. Applewild School, is a private day and boarding school that offers pre-kindergarten through 9th grade. It has earned an A-minus Niche grade.
The Applewild School is a prestegious boarding school serving the Devens area.
The Bromfield School is a wonderful place to go and learn in Devens.
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Fishing, boating, soccer and rugby are all hot in Devens
Mirror Lake is right in the middle of Devens and offers year-round fun. Its lakefront beach is open during the summer. The lake offers fishing, canoeing and kayaking and is zoned as a protected, conservation area. Rogers Field Complex’s 44-acres has sports fields and amenities for local soccer, lacrosse and rugby teams. Red Tail Golf Club offers an 18-hole golf course and a well-appointed clubhouse which members enjoy for weddings, parties and business events. The Red Tail Tavern offers indoor and outdoor dining for lunch and dinner.
Mirror Lake is a natural beauty in the Devens neighborhood.
Rodgers Field has many different sports options for Devens residents.
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Getting to Boston or around the region is easy with public transportation
MART provides regional shuttle service from Fitchburg and Leominster to Devens daily and connects riders to local commuter rail stations. Commuters can take trains into Boston or use commuter trains and then the “T,” Boston’s subway. With traffic, driving from Devens to Boston can take about an hour. George W. Stanton Highway/Route 2 is just outside the southern boundary of Devens and connects drivers to Interstate 495 in about 10 miles.
Dan Parravano is a well-respected name in the real estate industry, known for bringing over a decade of experience and a sharp analytical edge to every transaction. With several years spent in corporate real estate at a Fortune 250 company, Dan developed deep expertise in market research, financial due diligence, and strategic decision-making.
During his graduate studies in finance, Dan got his first taste of applying advanced analytical techniques to real estate — an experience that sparked his passion for combining data with deal-making. That foundation continues to shape his approach today. He believes real estate decisions should be grounded in solid numbers, not just gut feeling. Whether working with investors, business owners, individual homeowners, or those making a life-changing purchase, Dan leverages advanced market insights and financial metrics to help his clients capitalize on smart, future-focused opportunities.
In addition to his work in the field, Dan brings his passion for real estate into the classroom, serving as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts. There, he helps shape the next generation of real estate professionals by emphasizing evidence-based practices and economic insight.
Dan combines analytical rigor with real-world experience to guide clients toward sound investments and confident decisions — because in today’s market, knowledge is power.
*This homes.com profile is just a sampling of our work. ALL of our transactions are NOT featured here.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
