Compare towns
Kingston vs Millis vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
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 | Kingston | Millis | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,910Lowest |
8,888Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±3.4 26% above MA |
46.4±3Lowest 16% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Sterling and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest 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+ | 24.5%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Kingston and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 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 | $150,886±$30k 45% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
| Millis and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $589,900±$36k 5% above MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
| Millis and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$539Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Sterling and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,660Lowest 11% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±25.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.3%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling 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 | #99 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Millis | Wachusett |
| High school in town | — | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.