Compare towns
Acton vs Dunbarton vs Littleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k median).
Littleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
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 | Acton | Dunbarton | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
3,097Lowest |
10,280 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.5±2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$149,722±$31k 85% above U.S. |
| Acton and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$658,300±$40k 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,016±$507Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Littleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,233Lowest 164% above U.S. |
$9,458 203% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Littleton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dunbarton School District | Littleton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| 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.