Compare towns
Milton vs Wakefield vs Quincy
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 highest household income ($189k).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
Quincy has the most renters (54.8% rent).
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 | Wakefield | Quincy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587 |
27,793Lowest |
102,114Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
38.6±0.8Lowest 4% below MA |
| Wakefield and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Wakefield and Quincy 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% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Milton and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$98,882±$5kLowest 5% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$618,500±$14kLowest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$2,118±$59Highest 20% above MA |
| Quincy and Wakefield 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 |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$6,381Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±3.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Quincy and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
45.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 8% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Milton and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #147 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Quincy |
| High school in town | — | — | North Quincy High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.5 |
| 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.