Compare towns
Millis vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Medfield has the highest household income ($236k).
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 | Lancaster | Medfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888 |
8,606Lowest |
13,068Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
42.4±3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Millis and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
28.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Lancaster 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 |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$235,800±$32kHighest 127% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$911,100±$32kHighest 62% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,035±$559 15% above MA |
| Lancaster and Medfield 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
63.1%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Medfield and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #26 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Nashoba | Medfield |
| High school in town | Millis High School | None in town | Medfield Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| 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.