Compare towns
Reading vs Bow vs Milton vs Wakefield
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).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Bow | Milton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
8,335Lowest |
28,587Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Reading and Wakefield 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Bow 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% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Wakefield 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% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kLowest 66% above U.S. |
| Milton and Bow 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. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Reading and Wakefield 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. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
$7,779Lowest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Wakefield 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than 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. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #55 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Bow School District | Milton | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Bow High School | Milton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.4 |
— |
| 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.