Compare towns
Ayer vs Barnet 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
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Littleton has the highest household income ($150k).
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 | Ayer | Barnet | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,855Lowest |
10,280Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.5±2 12% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Littleton and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Littleton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$149,722±$31kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$658,300±$40kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,016±$507Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Littleton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$9,458Highest 203% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Littleton and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Littleton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.