Compare towns
Milton vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Lancaster | Reading | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587 |
8,606Lowest |
25,612 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% 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 |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Reading and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%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%±1.8 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 |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Lowest 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 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 |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Nashoba | Reading | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Milton High | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
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.