Compare towns
Reading vs Middlesex 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 renters (17.6% rent).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Middlesex | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612 |
1,943Lowest |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
| Reading and Milton 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. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Reading 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Lowest 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 | — | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Milton |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 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.