Compare towns
Lancaster 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
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Lancaster | Milton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
28,587Highest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Reading and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 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+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kLowest 30% 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 | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
| Lancaster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Milton | Reading |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.