Compare towns
Rowley vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Dover | Millis | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251 |
5,930Lowest |
8,888Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 25% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Millis 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
| Dover and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,344 56% above MA |
$6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 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% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #214 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Millis | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.