Compare towns
Millis vs Sturbridge vs Wayne vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
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 | Wayne | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,888 |
9,960 |
1,101Lowest |
11,673Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 19% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norfolk and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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 93% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$200,720±$22kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 81% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$725,200±$34kHighest 118% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 20% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,019±$598Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344 200% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$9,651Highest 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norfolk and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Wayne 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 | — | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | RSU 38 | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.