Compare towns
Millis vs Pepperell vs Plainfield
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 highest household income ($156k).
Pepperell has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Pepperell | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
11,663 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Millis and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Plainfield 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Plainfield 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 93% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Millis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Millis | North Middlesex | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Millis High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.