Compare towns
Ayer vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Exeter | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
7,195Lowest |
10,280Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.5±2Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Littleton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Littleton and Ayer 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% |
18.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$149,722±$31kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Littleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$658,300±$40kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,317±$307Lowest 7% 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 | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$9,458Highest 203% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Lowest 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | 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.