Compare towns
Milton vs Hull vs Reading vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Milton | Hull | Reading | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587 |
10,138Lowest |
25,612 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3 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+ | 16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below 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 | $933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hull and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hull | Reading | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | — | Hull High | Reading Memorial High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.8Lowest |
12.1 |
18.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.