Compare towns
Acton vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Reading | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
25,612Highest |
10,280Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.5±2Lowest 9% above MA |
| Acton and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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 MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
59.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$14k 52% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$149,722±$31kLowest 44% above MA |
| Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$658,300±$40kLowest 17% above MA |
| Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,016±$507Highest 14% above MA |
| Littleton and Reading 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 |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$9,458 58% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.7%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Littleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Reading | Littleton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Reading Memorial High | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.