Compare towns
Acton vs Thompson 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%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Littleton has the youngest population (median age 43.5).
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 | Thompson | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
9,337Lowest |
10,280 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.5±2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$658,300±$40k 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$9,458 203% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Littleton and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Thompson School District | Littleton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.