Compare towns
Milton vs Newton 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%).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587 |
89,044Highest |
25,612Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Reading and Newton 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%±1Lowest 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% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Newton 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% |
81.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Newton and Milton 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 81% above MA |
$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above 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 |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Milton and Newton 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% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Newton 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Newton | Reading |
| High school in town | Milton High | Newton North High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
10.8Lowest |
12.1 |
| 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.