What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millis has the oldest population (median age 46.4).

Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).

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	Northborough
People
Population	8,888Lowest	15,750Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3Highest 16% above MA	45±3Lowest 13% above MA
	Millis and Northborough 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%	21.6%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northborough 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%	17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Millis and Northborough 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%	65.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northborough 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±$9kHighest 50% above MA	$153,199±$19kLowest 47% above MA
	Millis and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA	$620,000±$24kHighest 10% above MA
	Northborough and Millis 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	$1,919±$269Highest 9% above MA
	Northborough and Millis 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	$7,983Lowest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8%	50.1%±16.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Millis and Northborough 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.5%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northborough 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	#35 of 282 in MA
School district	Millis	Northborough · Northboro-Southboro
High school in town	Millis High School	Algonquin Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	10.8Highest
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.