Compare towns
Boston vs Derry vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Boston | Derry | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
34,116 |
28,587Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Milton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Milton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10k 120% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25Highest 52% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #258 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Milton |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Pinkerton Academy | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
13.9 |
12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.