Compare towns
Millis vs North Reading 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%).
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 | North Reading | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
15,765Highest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Millis and North Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and North Reading 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 |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
| Norfolk and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
| North Reading and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344Lowest 56% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | North Reading | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Millis High School | North Reading High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.