Compare towns
Milton vs Reading vs Suffield vs Windsor Locks
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Suffield | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
25,612 |
15,702 |
12,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Suffield 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% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$809,000±$22k 143% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Milton 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. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Suffield 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Milton | Reading | Suffield School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Milton High | Reading Memorial High | Suffield High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
12.1 |
10.9 |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.