Compare towns
Millis vs Athol vs Littleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millis has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Littleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
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 | Millis | Athol | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
12,011Highest |
10,280 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
43.5±2 9% above MA |
| Millis and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Littleton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$149,722±$31k 44% above MA |
| Millis and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$658,300±$40kHighest 17% above MA |
| Littleton and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,016±$507Highest 14% above MA |
| Littleton and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344 56% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$9,458Highest 58% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.7%±13.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Littleton 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Athol-Royalston | Littleton |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Athol High | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.6 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.