Compare towns
Townsend vs Millis vs Sutton vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k 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 | Townsend | Millis | Sutton | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
8,888 |
9,452Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Ashby and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Millis and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Millis and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Ashby 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Millis | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Millis High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.6 |
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| 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.