Compare towns
Milton vs Hardwick 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Hardwick | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
2,684Lowest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Hardwick 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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 MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Milton and Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% 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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281 16% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Reading and Milton 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Quabbin | Reading |
| High school in town | Milton High | None in town | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
— | 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.