Compare towns
Millis vs Sturbridge 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 expensive homes ($604k median).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Sturbridge | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
9,960Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
| Millis and Sturbridge 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 |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Millis and Townsend 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 |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
7.7Lowest |
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.