Compare towns
Reading vs Windham vs Milton vs North Reading
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 most renters (17.6% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k 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 | Windham | Milton | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
16,038 |
28,587Highest |
15,765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
| Reading and North Reading 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Milton 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and North Reading 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15k 134% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25kLowest 83% above U.S. |
| Windham and Milton 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. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24kLowest 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,259±$356 60% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Lowest 199% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
$9,693 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #55 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Milton | North Reading |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Milton High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.4 |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.