Compare towns
Milton vs Exeter vs Reading vs Quincy
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).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Quincy has the most renters (54.8% 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 | Exeter | Reading | Quincy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587 |
16,151Lowest |
25,612 |
102,114Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
38.6±0.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$98,882±$5kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| 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 180% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22k 143% above U.S. |
$618,500±$14k 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$2,118±$59Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Quincy and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$6,381Lowest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±3.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Quincy 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±1.8 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #50 of 282 in MA | #147 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Reading | Quincy |
| High school in town | Milton High | Exeter High School | Reading Memorial High | North Quincy High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.