Compare towns
Millis vs Needham vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Needham | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
32,459Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Millis 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Sturbridge 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$9k 50% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Needham | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Needham High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.9Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.