Compare towns
Boylston vs Millis vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Millis has the most homeowners (83.2%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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 | Boylston | Millis | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
8,888 |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Boylston and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Boylston 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% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28kLowest 36% above MA |
$155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Reading and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
| Boylston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266Lowest 21% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Millis | Reading |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Millis High School | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.