Compare towns
Millis vs Sterling vs Medfield
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%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Medfield has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Sterling | Medfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Highest |
8,183 |
6,849Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 16% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
45.7±5.4Lowest 14% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Medfield and Sterling 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% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Sterling 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% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
72.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
$218,946±$34kHighest 111% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$815,300±$46kHighest 45% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$2,014±$531Highest 14% above MA |
| Medfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344 56% above MA |
$6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±17.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±6.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA | #26 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Wachusett | — |
| High school in town | Millis High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.