Compare towns
Acton vs Milton vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Reading 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 | Acton | Milton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
28,587Highest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Acton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
| Milton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Reading 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Milton | Reading |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Milton High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.4 |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.