Compare towns
Milton vs Putney vs Reading vs Andover
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 highest household income ($189k).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Putney | Reading | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587 |
2,622Lowest |
25,612 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Andover 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Milton and Andover 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. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22k 143% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Andover and Reading 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. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #50 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Reading | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Milton High | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.