Compare towns
Upton vs Norwell vs Millis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k median).
Millis has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Upton | Norwell | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
11,361Highest |
8,888 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
$155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
| Norwell and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
| Norwell and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,344 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Norwell | Millis |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Norwell High | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.