Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Worcester 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%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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.

MeasureSturbridgeWorcesterMillis
People
Population
9,960
207,055Highest
8,888Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+14.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+7.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6Highest
18% above MA
33.9±0.5Lowest
15% below 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%
19.6%±0.8
MA: 19.4%
18.4%±2.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Sturbridge and Worcester 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%
13.3%±0.6Lowest
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%
35.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
54.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
14.1%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$136,759±$15k
32% above MA
$70,102±$2kLowest
33% 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
$374,400±$7kLowest
33% below MA
$603,500±$31kHighest
7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398Lowest
32% below MA
$1,487±$38
16% below MA
$1,696±$279Highest
4% below MA
Millis and Worcester 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
$4,733Lowest
21% below MA
$9,344Highest
56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
54.2%±2.9
MA: 51.8%
56.5%±16.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
Millis and Worcester 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%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
42.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
1951Lowest
13 yrs older than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
30% above MA
24 minLowest
17% below MA
31 min
5% above MA
Work from home
19.8%±4.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.5%±1Lowest
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 #266 of 282 in MA #63 of 282 in MA
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester Millis
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High South High Community Millis High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
14.6Highest
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.