Compare towns
Millis vs Lenox vs Upton vs Norfolk
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%).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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 | Lenox | Upton | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,888 |
5,079Lowest |
8,189 |
11,673Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 16% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest 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%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Lenox 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 |
$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,091±$238 38% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
| Norfolk and Millis 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 |
$5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Upton 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Lenox | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Lenox Memorial High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
7.6Lowest |
11.2Highest |
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| 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.



