Compare towns
Millis vs Northbridge vs Plainfield vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millis has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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 | Northbridge | Plainfield | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
16,458Highest |
15,141 |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
| Millis and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norfolk and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 93% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$200,720±$22kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 81% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$725,200±$34kHighest 118% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 20% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,019±$598Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344 200% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$9,651Highest 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norfolk and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Northbridge | Plainfield School District | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Northbridge High | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
10.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.