Compare towns
Millis vs Putnam vs Sturbridge
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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Putnam | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
9,292 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Millis 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis and Sturbridge 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Millis and Sturbridge 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Millis and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Millis and Sturbridge 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis and Sturbridge 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Putnam School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Putnam High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
9.5 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.