Compare towns
Milton vs Woonsocket vs Reading vs Boston
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).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Woonsocket | Reading | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587 |
43,521 |
25,612Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Reading and Milton 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% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2k 21% 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22k 143% above U.S. |
$731,700±$10k 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$2,147±$25Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Boston 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$4,456 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boston and Woonsocket 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #50 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Reading | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Milton High | Woonsocket High School | Reading Memorial High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
15.2 |
12.1Lowest |
18.7Highest |
| 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.