Compare towns
Acton vs Stoneham 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%).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 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 | Stoneham | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
23,355 |
10,280Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above 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% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham 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% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Stoneham 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 |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above 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 |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$658,300±$40kLowest 17% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$2,016±$507 14% above MA |
| Stoneham 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 |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$9,458 58% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Stoneham | Littleton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Stoneham High | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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.