Compare towns

Reading vs Windsor vs Milton

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 people working from home (30.2%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($305k 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.

MeasureReadingWindsorMilton
People
Population
25,612Lowest
29,468Highest
28,587
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above U.S.
43.7±1.9Highest
12% above U.S.
41.1±1.8Lowest
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.8%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.3%±2.2Highest
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+
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Windsor 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%
43.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
71.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$165,912±$13k
106% above U.S.
$104,725±$8kLowest
30% above U.S.
$188,529±$15kHighest
134% 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.
$305,200±$11kLowest
8% below U.S.
$933,200±$31kHighest
180% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,681±$62
19% above U.S.
$1,474±$281Lowest
4% above U.S.
Reading and Windsor 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.
$5,351Lowest
72% above U.S.
$9,677Highest
210% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.9%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±20.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Milton and Windsor 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%
6.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1970Highest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
Work from home
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.7%±2.9
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 #117 of 149 in CT #55 of 282 in MA
School district — Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District Milton
High school in town — Windsor High School Milton High
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.2Lowest
12.4Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.