Compare towns
Reading vs Milton vs Needham
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 most affordable homes ($809k median).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Milton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Lowest |
28,587 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Reading and Needham 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% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Needham 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±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Needham and Reading 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 |
$9,677 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #19 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 |
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| 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.