Compare towns
Milton vs Reading vs Reading vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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 | Reading | Reading | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
25,612Lowest |
25,612Lowest |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Reading | Milton |
| High school in town | — | — | Reading Memorial High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.