Holliston vs Milford
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $250k more for a 4BR in Holliston, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $250k for one tier of schooling.
Holliston is about 6 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Milford works out roughly $4,700 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Holliston if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Holliston numbers →Choose Milford if you want the lower price.
All Milford numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsHolliston ahead on 6 of 9
| Holliston | Milford | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS achievement | 80th | 18th |
| Student growth | 56th | 50th |
| Graduation rate | 95.1% | 79.7% |
| SchoolDigger rank | 58th of 361 | 315th of 361 |
| State accountability | Substantial progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $19,110 | $21,457 |
| Schools in the district | 3 | 5 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 12 | 5 |
What a home costsMilford ahead on 7 of 8
| Holliston | Milford | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $900kT3 | $650kT2 |
| 3BR townhouse | $690k | $520k |
| 2BR condo | $510k | $385k |
| 3BR home | $679k | $542k |
| 5+ BR home | $1.13M | $724k |
| 3BR rent | $3,303/mo | $3,427/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $248k | $178k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.4% a year | 6.4% a year |
What you pay the townMilford ahead on 2 of 4
| Holliston | Milford | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $14.29T3 | $12.69T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$12,900 | ≈$8,200 |
| Town spending per resident | $4,696 | $4,903 |
| Share of budget on schools | 65% | 52% |
Getting to workHolliston ahead on 2 of 3
| Holliston | Milford | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 57 minT3 | 63 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 23 mi | 27 mi |
Before kindergartenMilford ahead on 3 of 4
| Holliston | Milford | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 16 | 38 |
| Child care places | 367 | 1,100 |
| Centers vs family programs | 6 centers | 12 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 41 | 248 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Holliston | Milford | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,996 | 30,379 |
| Energy | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Compact center | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Culture | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Gathering places | 7/10 | 6/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
