Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Chilmark vs Millis vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Millis has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Sturbridge | Chilmark | Millis | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
1,578Lowest |
8,888 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Chilmark and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Chilmark and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
| Chilmark and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Chilmark 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | — | #63 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Up-Island Regional | Millis | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 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.