Compare towns
Milton vs Reading vs Everett 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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Westford has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
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 | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587 |
25,612 |
50,045Highest |
24,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.3% 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 |
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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
73.9%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% |
5.3%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below 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 |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$748,500±$32k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,436±$422Highest 38% above MA |
| Westford and Everett 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$9,695Highest 62% 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%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±8 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Westford 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.9%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 |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #20 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Reading | Everett | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford |
| High school in town | Milton High | Reading Memorial High | Everett High | Westford Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.