Compare towns
Holliston vs Reading vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holliston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($477k 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.
| Measure | Holliston | Reading | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,094Lowest |
25,612 |
30,431Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±1.9Highest 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Holliston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.9% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Milford and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $159,817±$9k 54% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Reading and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$20k 16% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$476,700±$12kLowest 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$225Lowest 3% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,909±$137 8% above MA |
| Reading and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,397Highest 57% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$5,869Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Milford and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
7.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.1%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Holliston 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 | #38 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holliston | Reading | Milford |
| High school in town | Holliston High | Reading Memorial High | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.