Compare towns
Lancaster vs Millis vs Wrentham
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 people working from home (33.6%).
Millis has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Millis | Wrentham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
8,888 |
12,297Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
| Wrentham and Millis 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% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wrentham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Wrentham 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% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham 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±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$151,676±$17k 46% above MA |
| Millis and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
| Wrentham and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA |
| Lancaster and Millis 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 |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$7,373 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Wrentham 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #49 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Millis | King Philip · Wrentham |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | King Philip Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.