Compare towns
Milton vs Reading vs Everett vs Hopkinton
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).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Reading | Everett | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587 |
25,612 |
50,045Highest |
19,358Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8% MA: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
40.8±1.6 about the MA average |
| 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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
29.5%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hopkinton 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
12.5%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
77.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$222,801±$22kHighest 114% above MA |
| Hopkinton and Milton 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 |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$802,700±$39k 43% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,641±$361Highest 50% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677 61% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.4%±14.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hopkinton and Everett 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% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #5 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Reading | Everett | Hopkinton |
| High school in town | Milton High | Reading Memorial High | Everett High | Hopkinton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
14.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.