Compare towns

Millis vs Springfield vs Worcester 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 most expensive homes ($604k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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.

MeasureMillisSpringfieldWorcesterUpton
People
Population
8,888
154,749
207,055Highest
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+14.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±3Highest
16% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
33.9±0.5
15% below MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
Kids under 18
18.4%±2.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±0.8
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5
MA: 19.4%
Springfield 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%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
13.3%±0.6
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
Millis and Upton 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
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
35.2%
MA: 47.3%
53.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5
MA: 7.9%
14.1%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$155,996±$9kHighest
50% above MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$70,102±$2k
33% below MA
$155,508±$33k
50% above MA
Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$603,500±$31kHighest
7% above MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$374,400±$7k
33% below MA
$576,700±$41k
about the MA average
Millis and Upton 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
$1,144±$55
35% below MA
$1,487±$38
16% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
Millis and Worcester 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
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$4,733
21% below MA
$8,376
40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.5%±16.6
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
54.2%±2.9
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Springfield 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%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
19.6%
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.2%
MA: 62.5%
49.6%
MA: 62.5%
42.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1952
12 yrs older than MA
1951Lowest
13 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
5% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
24 min
17% below MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
17.5%±4.2
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
11.5%±1
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Upton 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 #276 of 282 in MA #266 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Millis Springfield Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Millis High School Springfield Central High South High Community Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
12.2
14.6Highest
11.2
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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.