Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Dedham vs Millis

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).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).

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.

MeasureSturbridgeDedhamMillis
People
Population
9,960
25,237Highest
8,888Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6Highest
18% above MA
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% above MA
46.4±3
16% above MA
Sturbridge and Millis 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%
18.6%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
18.4%±2.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Sturbridge and Dedham 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%
21.9%±2
MA: 17.9%
23.5%±3.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Millis and Dedham 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%
55%Highest
MA: 47.3%
54.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Dedham and Millis 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
$128,955±$10kLowest
24% above MA
$155,996±$9kHighest
50% above MA
Millis and Sturbridge 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
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
$603,500±$31k
7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398Lowest
32% below MA
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$1,696±$279
4% below MA
Dedham and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,520Lowest
9% above MA
$7,918
32% above MA
$9,344Highest
56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10
MA: 51.8%
56.5%±16.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
Millis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.6%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
30% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
31 min
5% above MA
Work from home
19.8%±4.8
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
17.5%±4.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Dedham and Sturbridge 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 #119 of 282 in MA #63 of 282 in MA
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Dedham Millis
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Dedham High Millis High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
10.4
10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.