Compare towns
Milton vs Pinehurst vs Reading vs Westford
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 expensive homes ($933k median).
Pinehurst has the most affordable homes ($624k median).
Reading has the most renters (17.6% rent).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Pinehurst | Reading | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
6,845Lowest |
25,612 |
24,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±2 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.8±1.2 7% above MA |
| Reading and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westford and Milton 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% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Reading 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% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
73.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$146,250±$27kLowest 41% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$187,198±$10k 80% above MA |
| Milton and Westford 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 |
$623,800±$22kLowest 11% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$748,500±$32k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,946±$1k 10% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,436±$422Highest 38% above MA |
| Westford and Reading 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 |
$6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$9,695Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westford 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27%±2.9 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | #20 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | — | Reading | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford |
| High school in town | Milton High | — | Reading Memorial High | Westford Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.