Compare towns
Boston vs Milton vs Upton 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 most renters (64.3% rent).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Milton | Upton | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
28,587 |
8,189Lowest |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
| Upton 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% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$1,474±$281 16% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,474±$281 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #258 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Milton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Milton High | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
12.4 |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.