Compare towns

Millis vs Northampton vs Upton

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%).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureMillisNorthamptonUpton
People
Population
8,888
30,962Highest
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±3Highest
16% above MA
41.3±2.2Lowest
3% above MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
Kids under 18
18.4%±2.8
MA: 19.4%
16%±1.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Millis 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%
20.7%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
Millis and Upton 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%
62.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
14%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$155,996±$9kHighest
50% above MA
$80,288±$6kLowest
23% below MA
$155,508±$33k
50% above MA
Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$603,500±$31kHighest
7% above MA
$429,700±$17kLowest
24% below MA
$576,700±$41k
about the MA average
Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,696±$279Highest
4% below MA
$1,439±$75
18% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% 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
$8,376
40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.5%±16.6
MA: 51.8%
57.6%±6.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31Lowest
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%
MA: 10%
13.4%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.2%
MA: 62.5%
57.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
5% above MA
21 minLowest
26% below MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
17.5%±4.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.1%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
Northampton 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 #159 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Millis Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Millis High School Northampton High Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
14.7Highest
11.2
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.