Compare towns
Millis vs Rowley vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millis has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Rowley | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888 |
6,251Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 16% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Rowley 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 50% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
| Millis and Rowley 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 |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rowley and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Millis and Rowley 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Millis and Rowley 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Triton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Millis High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.