Compare towns
Millis vs Sutton vs Acton
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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Sutton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
9,452 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Millis and Acton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
| Acton and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
| Acton and Millis 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 |
$6,763Lowest 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% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Sutton | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Sutton High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.6 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.