Compare towns
Worcester vs Sutton vs Millis vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Lowell has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Sutton | Millis | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
9,452 |
8,888Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Millis and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below 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 | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Millis and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 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 | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Sutton | Millis | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Sutton High School | Millis High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
12.6 |
10.7Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.