Compare towns
Spencer vs Millis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k median).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Spencer | Millis |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
8,888Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
46.4±3Lowest 16% above MA |
| Spencer and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Millis and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Millis and Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Millis |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.

