Compare towns
Lancaster vs Millis vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Lancaster | Millis | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
8,888 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Millis and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Millis and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,696±$279 20% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Nashoba | Millis | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.