Compare towns
Boylston vs Millis vs Reading vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Millis has the most homeowners (83.2%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948 |
8,888 |
25,612Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest 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%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Millis 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest 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% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% 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 |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 21% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% 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% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Berlin 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% 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% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Millis | Reading | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Millis High School | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| 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.