Compare towns
Milton vs Williston vs Reading vs Quincy
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Quincy has the most renters (54.8% rent).
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 | Williston | Reading | Quincy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587 |
10,144Lowest |
25,612 |
102,114Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
38.6±0.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±1Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$98,882±$5kLowest 22% 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. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22k 143% above U.S. |
$618,500±$14k 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$2,118±$59Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Quincy and Reading 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$6,381 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Quincy and Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±1.8Lowest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #50 of 282 in MA | #147 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Reading | Quincy |
| High school in town | Milton High | None in town | Reading Memorial High | North Quincy High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| 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.