Compare towns
Reading vs Marblehead 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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Milton has the most kids (25.3% under 18).
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 | Marblehead | Wakefield | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
20,413Lowest |
27,793 |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Reading 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% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 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 |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
| Milton and Marblehead 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 |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
| Marblehead and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,764±$147 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | — | — | Milton |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | — | — | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 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.