Compare towns
Acton vs Truro 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 renters (25.1% rent).
Truro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.5%).
Littleton has the most affordable homes ($658k median).
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 | Truro | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
1,708Lowest |
10,280 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+22.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
64.1±5.8Highest 60% above MA |
43.5±2Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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% |
45.6%±10.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
57.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±5.6Lowest 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±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$118,984±$72kLowest 14% 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±$20k 44% above MA |
$888,200±$117kHighest 58% above MA |
$658,300±$40kLowest 17% above MA |
| Truro 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 |
— | $2,016±$507Highest 14% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$3,997Lowest 33% below MA |
$9,458 58% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.7%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Truro 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
35.2%±22.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Truro 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 | — | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Truro | Littleton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| 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.