Compare towns
Acton vs Exeter 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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Littleton has the most homeowners (83.6%).
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 | Exeter | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
16,151 |
10,280Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.5±2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Acton 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$658,300±$40k 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above 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. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$9,458 203% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Littleton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Exeter High School | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.