Compare towns
Douglas vs Milton vs Reading vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Douglas | Milton | Reading | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
28,587Highest |
25,612 |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Douglas and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below 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 | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,474±$281 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Reading and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Milton | Reading | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Milton High | Reading Memorial High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.4Highest |
12.1 |
11.6 |
| 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.