Compare towns
Milton vs Dover vs Reading vs Andover
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 youngest population (median age 41.1).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Dover | Reading | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587 |
5,930Lowest |
25,612 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Dover 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Dover and Andover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Milton and Andover 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Andover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Reading | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Milton High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Reading Memorial High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
9.8Lowest |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.