Compare towns
Millis vs Brookfield vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Brookfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888 |
3,460Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3 19% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield 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±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Millis and Brookfield 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Millis | Brookfield | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Millis High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.