What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Hopedale has the most homeowners (79.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Milford	Hopedale
People
Population	30,431Highest	6,027Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average	44.4±5.2Highest 11% above MA
	Hopedale and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hopedale and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hopedale and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hopedale and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA	$115,722±$19kHighest 11% above MA
	Hopedale and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,700±$12kHighest 15% below MA	$466,100±$28kLowest 17% below MA
	Milford and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,909±$137Highest 8% above MA	$1,788±$223Lowest about the MA average
	Milford and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,869Lowest about the MA average	$6,868Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±30.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Milford and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	31 minLowest 6% above MA
Work from home	14.5%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Milford and Hopedale 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	#213 of 282 in MA	#125 of 282 in MA
School district	Milford	Hopedale
High school in town	Milford High	Hopedale Jr Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.