Compare towns
Rowley vs Thompson vs Millis vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Thompson | Millis | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
9,337Highest |
8,888 |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±3Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Rowley and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 64% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
| Millis and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$603,500±$31k 81% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520 13% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279 20% above U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 166% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Millis 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #63 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Thompson School District | Millis | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.