Compare towns
Chester vs Millis vs Upton vs Russell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($282k median).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Russell has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Chester | Millis | Upton | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,240 |
8,888Highest |
8,189 |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7Lowest 15% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
30.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,013±$330 43% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522Lowest 25% below MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | — | #63 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Millis | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.