Compare towns
Reading vs Hudson vs Milton
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%).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k median).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Hudson | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612 |
25,557Lowest |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Hudson 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% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest 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% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Hudson 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. |
$124,213±$6kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% 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. |
$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Reading and Hudson 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. |
$6,636Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Hudson 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Hudson School District | Milton |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Alvirne High School | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.6Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.