Compare towns
Millis vs Plainfield vs Sterling
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 most expensive homes ($604k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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.
| Measure | Millis | Plainfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888 |
15,141Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Millis and Sterling 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling 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% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis and Plainfield 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Millis and Sterling 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Millis | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| 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.