Compare towns
Millis vs Sturbridge vs Ware
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Sturbridge | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
9,960 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| 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%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Ware 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%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Sturbridge 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below 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±$18k 24% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Millis and Sturbridge 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ware |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
7.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.