Compare towns
Milton vs Reading vs Thompson
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 renters (17.6% rent).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
25,612 |
9,337Lowest |
| 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. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Reading 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% |
21.9%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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$809,000±$22k 143% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Milton 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Milton | Reading | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Milton High | Reading Memorial High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
12.1 |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.