Compare towns
Worcester vs Thompson vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Thompson | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
9,337Lowest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Millbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$450,100±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,406Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Millbury and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Thompson School District | Millbury |
| High school in town | South High Community | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.