Compare towns
Milton vs Pepperell 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%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Pepperell | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
11,663Lowest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Reading and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Pepperell 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% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above 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 |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281 16% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% 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 |
$6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Milton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | North Middlesex | 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.