Compare towns
Millis vs Barre vs Norfolk
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%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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 | Barre | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888 |
5,572Lowest |
11,673Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Millis and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Millis 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%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Barre 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% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Millis 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 |
$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
| Norfolk 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 |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk 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% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Quabbin | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.