What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has the most homeowners (85.2%).

Belmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Milton	Belmont
People
Population	28,587Highest	27,175Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA
	Belmont 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%	24.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Milton and Belmont 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%	19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Belmont and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	80.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA	$183,137±$14kLowest 76% above MA
	Milton and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$933,200±$31kLowest 66% above MA	$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA	$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,677Lowest 61% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8%	45.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Milton and Belmont 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%	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Highest 19 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	31.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Belmont 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	#3 of 282 in MA
School district	Milton	Belmont
High school in town	Milton High	Belmont High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	15.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.