Compare towns
Reading vs Halifax vs Wakefield vs Milton
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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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.
| Measure | Reading | Halifax | Wakefield | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
7,748Lowest |
27,793 |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
| 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 44% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| 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 56% above MA |
$6,840Lowest 14% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Milton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Halifax | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Milton |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.