Compare towns
Brewster vs Milton vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewster has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Reading has the most renters (17.6% rent).
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 | Brewster | Milton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,420Lowest |
28,587Highest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 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+ | 38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% 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 | $707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Reading and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brewster | Milton | Reading |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.