Compare towns
Millis vs Rowley vs Walpole vs Upton
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Walpole | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,888 |
6,251Lowest |
26,388Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 16% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Upton 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 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% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole 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±$9k 50% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Walpole 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 |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Walpole and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and Upton 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Triton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Millis High School | None in town | Walpole High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.