Compare towns
Milton vs Georgetown 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 highest household income ($189k).
Georgetown has the most affordable homes ($651k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Georgetown | Reading | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587 |
8,474Lowest |
25,612 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% 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 |
42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
23.5%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Andover 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% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Georgetown 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% |
56.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 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±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$151,595±$23kLowest 46% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Milton and Andover 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 |
$651,200±$23kLowest 16% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Georgetown 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 |
$7,272Lowest 21% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Georgetown 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% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest 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 |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Andover 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 | #140 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Georgetown | Reading | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Milton High | Georgetown High School | Reading Memorial High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
9.3Lowest |
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.