Compare towns
Milton vs Acton vs Reading
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).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Acton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
24,155Lowest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Acton and Reading 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% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above 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 |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Acton-Boxborough | Reading |
| High school in town | Milton High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.