Compare towns
Barre vs Millis vs Wrentham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Millis has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Barre | Millis | Wrentham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
8,888 |
12,297Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
| Wrentham and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wrentham and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$151,676±$17k 46% above MA |
| Millis and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
| Wrentham and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,184±$628 33% below MA |
| Millis and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$7,373 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wrentham and Millis 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #49 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Millis | King Philip · Wrentham |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Millis High School | King Philip Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.