Compare towns
Millis vs Derby 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 most expensive homes ($604k median).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Derby | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
12,487Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis and Derby 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% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby 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. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Millis and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis and Derby 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% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Millis and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Millis | Derby School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Derby High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
9.7 |
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.