Compare towns
Milton vs Reading vs Winchester
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 homeowners (85.2%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k 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 | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
25,612 |
23,406Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Reading and Winchester 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%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
| Winchester and Reading 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 |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Milton and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Winchester 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 | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Reading | Winchester |
| High school in town | Milton High | Reading Memorial High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.