Compare towns
Halifax vs Milton vs Reading vs Plympton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Reading has the most renters (17.6% rent).
Plympton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Halifax | Milton | Reading | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
28,587Highest |
25,612 |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
46.4±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
| Plympton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Lowest 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+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$126,736±$20k 22% 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 | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,474±$281 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Reading and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$6,628Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plympton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Milton | Reading | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton High | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.