Compare towns
Hamilton 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
Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k median).
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 | Hamilton | Milton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600Lowest |
28,587Highest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Reading and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8% MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$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 | $720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Reading and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 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 | 26.3%±5.1Lowest 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Milton | Reading |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Milton High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
12.4Highest |
12.1 |
| 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.