Compare towns

Millis vs Reading vs Medfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millis has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Reading has the most renters (17.6% rent).
Medfield has the highest household income ($236k).

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.

MeasureMillisReadingMedfield
People
Population
8,888Lowest
25,612Highest
13,068
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.4%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±3Highest
16% above MA
43.7±2.3
9% above MA
42.4±3Lowest
6% above MA
Millis and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.4%±2.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.8%±2.2
MA: 19.4%
28.2%±4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Medfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.5%±3.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±2.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Millis and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
66.3%
MA: 47.3%
78.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.7
MA: 7.9%
2.7%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Millis and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$155,996±$9kLowest
50% above MA
$165,912±$13k
60% above MA
$235,800±$32kHighest
127% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$603,500±$31kLowest
7% above MA
$809,000±$22k
44% above MA
$911,100±$32kHighest
62% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,696±$279Lowest
4% below MA
$1,991±$273
13% above MA
$2,035±$559Highest
15% above MA
Medfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,344
56% above MA
$9,320Lowest
56% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.5%±16.6
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
63.1%±20.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
Medfield and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%
MA: 10%
2.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.2%
MA: 62.5%
82.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
5% above MA
31 min
6% above MA
32 minHighest
9% above MA
Work from home
17.5%±4.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
30.2%±4.1
MA: 18.6%
36.6%±4.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Medfield 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 #63 of 282 in MA #50 of 282 in MA #26 of 282 in MA
School district Millis Reading Medfield
High school in town Millis High School Reading Memorial High Medfield Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
12.1
12.7Highest
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.