Compare towns
Millis vs Reading vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Reading | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
25,612Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 16% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$9k 50% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
| Reading and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
| Reading and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Reading | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Reading Memorial High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
12.1Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.