Compare towns
Millis vs Townsend vs Norfolk
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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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 | Townsend | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
9,100 |
11,673Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest 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±$9k 50% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
| 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 56% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | North Middlesex | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Millis High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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| 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.