Hopedale vs Milford
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
The prices are within about $50k of each other, so schools break the tie: Hopedale is ahead — 63rd percentile on MCAS against 18th.
On tax, look past the rate: Milford works out roughly $1,600 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Hopedale if you want the stronger schools of the two, or you want the lower price.
All Hopedale numbers →Choose Milford if the commute matters most.
All Milford numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsHopedale ahead on 3 of 9, 1 against
| Hopedale | Milford | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS achievement | 63rd | 18th |
| Student growth | 48th | 50th |
| Graduation rate | 96.8% | 79.7% |
| SchoolDigger rank | 161st of 361 | 315th of 361 |
| State accountability | Moderate progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $19,165 | $21,457 |
| Schools in the district | 2 | 5 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 1 | 5 |
What a home costsEven, 2 each of 8
| Hopedale | Milford | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $600kT2 | $650kT2 |
| 3BR townhouse | $460k | $520k |
| 2BR condo | $340k | $385k |
| 3BR home | $517k | $542k |
| 5+ BR home | $789k | $724k |
| 3BR rent | $3,850/mo | $3,427/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $172k | $178k |
| 10-year price growth | 6.2% a year | 6.4% a year |
What you pay the townMilford ahead on 2 of 4
| Hopedale | Milford | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $16.25T4 | $12.69T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$9,800 | ≈$8,200 |
| Town spending per resident | $5,310 | $4,903 |
| Share of budget on schools | 47% | 52% |
Getting to workLevel across all 3
| Hopedale | Milford | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 66 minT4 | 63 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 29 mi | 27 mi |
Before kindergartenMilford ahead on 3 of 4
| Hopedale | Milford | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 4 | 38 |
| Child care places | 145 | 1,100 |
| Centers vs family programs | 2 centers | 12 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 57 | 248 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Hopedale | Milford | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,017 | 30,379 |
| Energy | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Compact center | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Culture | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Gathering places | 6/10 | 6/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
