Compare towns
Boston vs Everett vs Reading vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has the youngest population (median age 33.3).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
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 | Everett | Reading | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
50,045 |
25,612Lowest |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
| Reading and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% 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 | $731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| Boston and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett 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 MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Milton 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 | #258 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Everett | Reading | Milton |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Everett High | Reading Memorial High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.