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