Compare towns
Millis vs Athol vs Medfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Medfield has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Medfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888 |
12,011Highest |
6,849Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
45.7±5.4 14% above MA |
| Millis and Medfield 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%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Medfield 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%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
72.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$218,946±$34kHighest 111% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$815,300±$46kHighest 45% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,014±$531Highest 14% above MA |
| Medfield 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±17.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±6.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #26 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Athol-Royalston | — |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Athol High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.