Compare towns

Milton vs Newfields vs Reading

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).
Newfields has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
Reading has the most renters (17.6% 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.

MeasureMiltonNewfieldsReading
People
Population
28,587Highest
2,023Lowest
25,612
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±1.8Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Highest
13% above U.S.
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
Newfields 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%
18.9%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±2.2
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%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
71.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
66.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
9.7%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Milton and Newfields 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
134% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$165,912±$13kLowest
106% above U.S.
Newfields and Milton 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.
$646,400±$34kLowest
94% above U.S.
$809,000±$22k
143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,474±$281Lowest
4% above U.S.
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
Reading and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,677
210% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,320Lowest
199% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.7%±20.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Milton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
29.7%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
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 — #50 of 282 in MA
School district Milton Newfields School District 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

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.