Compare towns
Reading vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Hanover | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612 |
14,845Lowest |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Reading and Hanover 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% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
| Hanover and Milton 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 |
$755,400±$39kLowest 34% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$9,342 56% above MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Milton |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.3Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.