What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peterborough has the most affordable homes ($405k 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.

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

Measure	Millis	Peterborough
People
Population	8,888Highest	6,408Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3Lowest 19% above U.S.	52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Millis and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peterborough and Millis 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 U.S.: 35.7%	62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S.	$98,401±$8kLowest 22% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S.	$404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S.	$1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average
	Millis and Peterborough 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.	$8,655Lowest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	23 minLowest 15% below U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Millis and Peterborough 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	#59 of 120 in NH
School district	Millis	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	Millis High School	Conval Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.