Compare towns
Milton vs Windham vs Reading vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% 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 | Windham | Reading | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587 |
16,038Lowest |
25,612 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Reading and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15k 134% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Windham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22k 143% above U.S. |
$731,700±$10k 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$2,147±$25 52% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #50 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Reading | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Reading Memorial High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
18.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.