Compare towns
Lancaster vs Medfield vs Millis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Medfield has the highest household income ($236k).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Lancaster | Medfield | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
13,068Highest |
8,888 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
42.4±3Lowest 6% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
| Millis and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
28.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$235,800±$32kHighest 127% above MA |
$155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$911,100±$32kHighest 62% above MA |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,035±$559 15% above MA |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
| Lancaster and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,344 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
63.1%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.1% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Medfield and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #26 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Medfield | Millis |
| High school in town | None in town | Medfield Senior High | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.