Compare towns
Ayer vs Everett vs Lancaster vs Littleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Everett | Lancaster | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
50,045Highest |
8,606Lowest |
10,280 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
43.5±2Highest 9% above MA |
| Littleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Littleton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
59.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Littleton 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 about the MA average |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$149,722±$31kHighest 44% above MA |
| Littleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$658,300±$40kHighest 17% above MA |
| Littleton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,016±$507 14% above MA |
| Lancaster and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$9,458Highest 58% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.7%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Littleton 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Everett | Nashoba | Littleton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Everett High | None in town | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.1 |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.