Compare towns
Boylston vs Sterling 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%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k 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 | Sterling | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
8,183 |
8,888Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
46.4±3Lowest 16% above MA |
| Sterling and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Sterling 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% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above 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 |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% 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 |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
| Boylston and Sterling 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 |
$6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Wachusett | Millis |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | None in town | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.