Compare towns
Reading vs Hooksett vs Milton vs Northborough
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 most people working from home (30.2%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Hooksett | Milton | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
15,057Lowest |
28,587Highest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Northborough 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Hooksett 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 106% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19k 90% 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. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$620,000±$24k 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,919±$269 36% above U.S. |
| Reading and Northborough 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. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
$7,983 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northborough 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #55 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Hooksett School District | Milton | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | Milton High | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 12.4Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.