Compare towns
Milton vs Newton vs Boston
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 most kids (25.3% under 18).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Newton | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Lowest |
89,044 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Newton and Milton 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%±1 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
| Newton 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±$31k 66% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$731,700±$10kLowest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA |
$2,147±$25 22% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boston 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% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1947Highest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Newton 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Newton | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Milton High | Newton North High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
10.8Lowest |
18.7Highest |
| 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.