Compare towns
Millis vs Washington vs Plainfield 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
Washington has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Washington | Plainfield | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,888 |
3,676Lowest |
15,141Highest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 19% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
| Washington 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norfolk and Plainfield 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%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% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Plainfield 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. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$200,720±$22kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 81% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130k 98% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$725,200±$34kHighest 118% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 20% above U.S. |
$1,204±$264Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% 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. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$9,651Highest 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Regional School District 12 | Plainfield School District | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Shepaug Valley School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
9.1Lowest |
10.3 |
— |
| 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.