Millis, Massachusetts
Millis is a town in Norfolk County in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It had a population of 8,460 at the 2020 census. The town is approximately 19 miles (31 km) southwest of downtown Boston and is bordered by Norfolk, Sherborn, Holliston, Medfield, and Medway. Massachusetts state routes 109 and 115 run through Millis.
This article is about the town of Millis. For the census-designated place, see Millis-Clicquot, Massachusetts.
Millis, Massachusetts
United States
1657
1885
31.8 km2 (12.3 sq mi)
31.5 km2 (12.2 sq mi)
0.3 km2 (0.1 sq mi)
50 m (163 ft)
8,460
268.6/km2 (693.4/sq mi)
25-41515
0618324
Geography[edit]
There are many areas of town-administered land, which helps to protect the environment and limit development. In addition, Millis has several wells and is home to various large farms.
The Charles River runs through Millis and the town has other smaller streams and brooks; most notably Bogastow Brook. Bogastow Brook, named after the Indian tribe formerly inhabiting the area, rises in East Holliston and runs through Millis, emptying in Millis' South End Pond.
Millis is also home to the Great Black Swamp. This swamp, covering hundreds of acres, is a very important characteristic of Millis. This swamp geographically divides Millis from its neighboring town Medway, and is a significant factor in the separation of the two towns in 1885.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 12.3 square miles (32 km2). Of this, 12.2 square miles (32 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.90%) is water.
Government[edit]
The town is part of the Massachusetts Senate's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district.
Education[edit]
The Millis school system is led by Superintendent Robert Mullaney, the former principal of Millis High School.[11] The district consists of three schools: Clyde F. Brown Elementary School and Millis Middle/High School and has a student population of 1,175. As of the 2021-2022 school year 29.9% of students are high needs, 18.85 are low-income, 14.2% are students with disabilities, 6.4% have a first language other than English, and 2% are English language learners. The district had a student teacher ratio of 12:1.[12]
In 2007 Millis was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Of Excellence award by the Federal Government under the No Child Left Behind Act. In addition, Millis High School has been awarded Silver Medal status in U.S. News & World Report's [13] online ranking of U.S. high schools. In 2010, Millis earned Silver Medal status as one of America's Best High Schools in U.S. News & World Report's latest ranking of public high schools. The magazine editors analyzed 18,743 high schools in the United States and ranked Millis High School in the top 3%.[13] As of 2021, Millis High School is ranked #74 in Massachusetts by U.S. News & World Report.
The Millis Public Library is the only library in the town and is part of the Minuteman Library Network.
