Compare towns
Rowley vs Canton vs Millis vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k 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 | Rowley | Canton | Millis | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
24,748Highest |
8,888 |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 25% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Sterling and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
| Millis and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
| Canton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 39% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Sterling 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Millis | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.