Compare towns
Wrentham vs Shirley vs Millis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Wrentham | Shirley | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,297Highest |
6,976Lowest |
8,888 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
| Wrentham and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Wrentham and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,676±$17k 46% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
| Millis and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
| Wrentham and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
| Millis and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,373 23% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wrentham and Shirley 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Wrentham | Ayer Shirley School District | Millis |
| High school in town | King Philip Regional High | None in town | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.