Compare towns
Millis vs Lancaster vs Norfolk vs Upton
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).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
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 | Norfolk | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,888 |
8,606 |
11,673Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Upton 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Upton 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% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Norfolk 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 |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Lancaster and Norfolk 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 |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Norfolk 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% |
2.2% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% 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 |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Norfolk 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Nashoba | King Philip · Millis | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Millis High School | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.