Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Douglas 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).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k 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.

MeasureSturbridgeDouglasMillis
People
Population
9,960Highest
9,207
8,888Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6Highest
18% above MA
44±2.6Lowest
10% 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%±3
MA: 19.4%
21.2%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.4%±2.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±3
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.5%±3.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Millis and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.3%
MA: 47.3%
41.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
54.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Douglas 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±$15kLowest
32% above MA
$152,267±$10k
46% above MA
$155,996±$9kHighest
50% above MA
Millis and Douglas 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
$470,600±$29k
16% below MA
$603,500±$31kHighest
7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398Lowest
32% below MA
$1,503±$697
15% below MA
$1,696±$279Highest
4% below MA
Millis and Douglas 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
$6,338Lowest
6% above MA
$9,344Highest
56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7
MA: 51.8%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
56.5%±16.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
Millis and Sturbridge 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%
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.8%
MA: 62.5%
83.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
18 yrs newer than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1974Lowest
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
30% above MA
34 min
16% above MA
31 minLowest
5% above MA
Work from home
19.8%±4.8
MA: 18.6%
20.9%±4.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
17.5%±4.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Douglas 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 #177 of 282 in MA #63 of 282 in MA
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Douglas Millis
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Douglas High School Millis High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7
7.2Lowest
10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.