Compare towns
Lowell 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
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Lowell | Milton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
28,587 |
25,612Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Reading and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Lowest 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+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest 24% below 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 | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lowell and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Milton | Reading |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Milton High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.4 |
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.