A $1 million budget means wildly different things across Greater Boston. In some towns, it buys a 4,000+ sq ft mansion on an acre. In others, it buys a 1,500 sq ft starter home on a postage stamp lot. We analyzed 10 towns to show the dramatic value differences.

Your $1 million budget can buy a 4,500 sq ft mansion on 1.2 acres in Groton—or a 1,500 sq ft starter home on 0.15 acres in Newton. The difference is staggering: 3x the square footage, 8x the lot size, and dramatically different lifestyles. We analyzed 10 Greater Boston towns using recent sales data to show what $1M actually buys. The results reveal why location matters more than price alone.

Gardner leads with 12.6% French Canadian (2,656), followed by Chicopee (8.1%, 4,510), and mill cities across Massachusetts preserving 135,871 French Canadian ancestry—a legacy of textile factories, Catholic parishes, and working-class Franco-American identity from Quebec to New England's industrial heartland.

Gardner (12.6%, 2,656), Chicopee (8.1%, 4,510), Fitchburg, and Attleboro anchor Massachusetts' 135,871 French Canadian population—descendants of Quebec textile workers who migrated 1850-1930. Mill city heritage meets Catholic traditions, poutine, and declining French language use. Prices $300K-$475K reflect post-industrial economies, but strong community bonds persist.