Compare towns
Boylston vs Hatfield vs Ware vs Millis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Boylston | Hatfield | Ware | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948 |
3,325Lowest |
10,048Highest |
8,888 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
| Boylston and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
| Millis and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
| Millis and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
| Boylston and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 21% above MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hatfield | Ware | Millis |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Smith Academy | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
6.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.