Compare towns
Reading vs Windham vs Milton vs Westford
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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Westford has the most kids (25.6% 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 | Windham | Milton | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
23,961Lowest |
28,587Highest |
24,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
42.8±1.2 10% above U.S. |
| Reading and Westford 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% |
20.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
73.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$187,198±$10k 132% above U.S. |
| Milton and Westford 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. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$748,500±$32k 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
$2,436±$422Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Westford and Reading 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. |
$4,633Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
$9,695Highest 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Westford 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% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #55 of 282 in MA | #20 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Milton | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Windham High School | Milton High | Westford Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
12.4 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.