Compare towns
Millis vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888 |
8,606Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Millis and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Putnam 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Millis and Putnam 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Millis and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Millis and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 20% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Millis 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. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Millis | Nashoba | 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.