What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Millis	Northampton
People
Population	8,888Lowest	30,962Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3Highest 16% above MA	41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA
	Millis and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Millis and Northampton 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%	20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Millis and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA	$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA	$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA	$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA
	Millis and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,344Highest 56% above MA	$5,680Lowest 5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±16.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northampton and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	13.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	21 minLowest 26% below MA
Work from home	17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northampton and Millis 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	#159 of 282 in MA
School district	Millis	Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural
High school in town	Millis High School	Northampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.