Compare towns
Reading vs Dover vs Milton vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Dover | Milton | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
5,930Lowest |
28,587Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Milton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
| Dover and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Reading 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Milton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Milton High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
12.4 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.