Compare towns

Concord 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

Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Reading has the most affordable 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.

MeasureConcordMiltonReading
People
Population
18,223Lowest
28,587Highest
25,612
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.6±2Highest
19% above MA
41.1±1.8Lowest
about the MA average
43.7±2.3
9% above MA
Concord and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.6%±2.6
MA: 19.4%
25.3%±2.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.8%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Milton and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±1.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
Concord and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
79.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
71.9%
MA: 47.3%
66.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.7
MA: 7.9%
9.7%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$195,350±$22kHighest
88% above MA
$188,529±$15k
81% above MA
$165,912±$13kLowest
60% above MA
Concord and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,210,000±$72kHighest
115% above MA
$933,200±$31k
66% above MA
$809,000±$22kLowest
44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,631±$166Highest
49% above MA
$1,474±$281Lowest
16% below MA
$1,991±$273
13% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$9,677
61% above MA
$9,320Lowest
56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.2%±10.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±20.9
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Concord and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%
MA: 10%
4.7%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
82.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Highest
5 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1960
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
11% above MA
31 min
8% above MA
31 minLowest
6% above MA
Work from home
36.1%±4.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
29.7%±2.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
30.2%±4.1
MA: 18.6%
Concord and Reading 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 #10 of 282 in MA #55 of 282 in MA #50 of 282 in MA
School district Concord · Concord-Carlisle Milton Reading
High school in town Concord Carlisle High Milton High Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
12.4Highest
12.1
On TownTapestry
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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.