Compare towns
Acton vs Fall River vs Everett vs Littleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Fall River | Everett | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
94,082Highest |
50,045 |
10,280Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.5±2 9% above MA |
| Acton and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
59.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 52% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$149,722±$31k 44% above MA |
| 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 44% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$658,300±$40k 17% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$2,016±$507 14% above MA |
| Everett and Littleton 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 67% above MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$9,458 58% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.7%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett 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 MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Everett | Littleton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | B M C Durfee High | Everett High | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
12.1 |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.