Compare towns
Milton vs Boston 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).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Boston | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587 |
666,442Highest |
25,612Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| 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%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below 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 |
$731,700±$10kLowest 30% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
| Boston and Reading 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 |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Boston and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #258 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Reading |
| High school in town | Milton High | Boston Latin School | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
18.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.