Compare towns
Reading vs Plainfield vs Milton vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k 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 | Reading | Plainfield | Milton | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
15,141Lowest |
28,587Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Reading and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% 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 | $809,000±$22k 143% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Canton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 199% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #55 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Milton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | Milton High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.4 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.