Compare towns
Milton vs Reading vs Worcester
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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Reading | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587 |
25,612Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Reading and Milton 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below 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 |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Milton High | — | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
— | 14.6Highest |
| 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.