Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Ludlow 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 people working from home (19.8%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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.
| Measure | Sturbridge | Ludlow | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
20,904Highest |
8,888Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±1.8Lowest 11% 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% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Millis 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% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Ludlow 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% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Ludlow 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 |
$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below 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±$18k 24% below MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$4,918Lowest 18% below MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Ludlow 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% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ludlow | Millis |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Ludlow Senior High | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.