Millville is a former mill town with a country feel
As the name suggests, Millville developed due to the presence of mills along the Blackstone River. While the mills have shuttered, many of the workers’ homes remain, and today the town’s roughly 3,000 residents live in old Colonial Revivals or American Foursquares with updated interiors. The rural community has easy access to Massachusetts State Route 146, which leads to employment hubs, Worcester and Providence. “Things get more rural the further you get from 495,” says Suzanne Ranieri, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty, who lives in the nearby town of Bellingham. “Millville is more remote than other towns close by. There’s not as much activity.”
Recreation surrounding the Blackstone River
The Blackstone River Greenway runs 48 miles from Worcester to Providence, passing through Millville and following the Blackstone River. Tucked between mature forests and along the bike path, the Triad Bridge, an old rail bridge, crosses the water. Locals can walk over the old iron and through the surrounding woods. Raineri mentions that hiking isn’t the only thing people do near the Blackstone River. “There’s a lot of kayaking and other things on the river,” says Raineri. Every year, the Blackstone River Greenway Challenge, an eight-segment relay with paddling, cycling and running takes place in Millville and surrounding towns in the Blackstone River Valley.
Historic homes and new construction along rural roads
A dense canopy of trees surrounds narrow roads in Millville. With low stone walls, winding streets and brush swaying in the wind, the town feels like the country. For between $200,000 and $500,000, potential buyers can find ranch-style homes, Cape Cods and American Foursquares with gable-front roofs. Larger Colonial Revival, bilevel and New Traditional houses can cost about $500,00 to $785,000. There’s a mix between historic homes from the 1800s and 1900s and newer constructions in Millville; however, prices depend on a property’s size, age and condition. “You can get a bigger house here than in nearby towns for the same price,” Ranieri says.
Students zoned for Blackstone-Millville Regional School District
The Blackstone-Millville Regional School District, which gets a B-minus score from Niche, serves Millville and its eastern neighbor, Blackstone. The district only has four schools. Millville Elementary gets a B-minus from Niche, A.F. Maloney Elementary gets a B, Frederick W. Hartnett Middle gets a C-plus and Blackstone Millville Regional High School earns a B-minus. “The high school has a great marching band that wins awards across the country,” says Ranieri. “They’ve been in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Rose Bowl. They’ve gone down to Orlando and played at Disney.”
Shopping in Blackstone, dining along Quaker Highway
Residents will need to travel outside of Millville to shop or dine. To the east, in nearby Blackstone, there’s a Stop & Shop on Pulaski Boulevard. In the same area, residents will find a Dollar Tree, Dunkin’, banks and gas stations. To the west, local restaurants line Quaker Highway. Quaker Tavern serves American fare from its rustic, wooden interior. Nearby Bert’s Breakfast & Lunch also serves comfort food, while Gia Ristorante Italiano dishes pasta, pizza and other Italian favorites.
Commuting to Worcester, Providence and Boston
The Southern New England Trunkline Trail runs 22 miles from the Franklin State Forest to the Douglas State Forest. The path goes through Millville and the surrounding towns, offering a quiet place to walk, run or bike. Massachusetts state Route 146 leads about 23 miles northwest to Worcester and about 18 miles southeast to Providence. It’s a roughly 50-mile drive to Boston, or locals can utilize the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority commuter rail in Franklin, about 11 miles away.
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
