Compare towns
Acton vs Exeter vs Newfields 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Exeter | Newfields | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
16,151 |
2,023Lowest |
10,280 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest 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. |
44.1±1.8 13% 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% |
18.9%±1.6 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%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% 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%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$149,722±$31k 85% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% 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. |
$1,875±$323 33% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,458 203% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest 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% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
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% |
25.5%±3.7 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 | Newfields School District | Littleton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Exeter High School | None in town | 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 → | 7 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.