Compare towns

Milton vs Putney vs Reading vs Randolph Town

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 most expensive homes ($933k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Randolph Town has the most renters (28.7% rent).

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.

MeasureMiltonPutneyReadingRandolph Town
People
Population
28,587
2,622Lowest
25,612
34,878Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%
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.
41.3±1.8
6% above U.S.
Reading and Randolph Town 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%
17.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Randolph Town 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
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
66.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
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%
9%±1.8
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.
$109,573±$6k
36% above U.S.
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
180% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$809,000±$22k
143% above U.S.
$496,400±$21k
49% 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.
$2,103±$98Highest
49% above U.S.
Randolph Town and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,677Highest
210% above U.S.
$5,313Lowest
70% above U.S.
$9,320
199% above U.S.
$5,644
81% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.7%±20.9
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Randolph Town and Putney 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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.3%Lowest
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.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
19% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
Work from home
29.7%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #32 of 70 in VT #50 of 282 in MA #260 of 282 in MA
School district Milton Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Reading Randolph
High school in town Milton High None in town Reading Memorial High Randolph High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.4
—
12.1Lowest
14.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.