Compare towns
Reading vs Barnard vs Milton vs 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
Barnard has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Barnard | Milton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
1,211Lowest |
28,587Highest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and 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% |
55.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% 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. |
$402,600±$71kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22k 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 199% above U.S. |
$6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Reading 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | — | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Milton | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | Milton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
— |
| 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.