Compare towns
Ayer vs Hampton 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 affordable homes ($464k median).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 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 | Hampton | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
10,101 |
10,280Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.5±2 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$149,722±$31kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$658,300±$40kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$2,016±$507Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Littleton and Hampton 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. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$9,458Highest 203% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Littleton and Hampton 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Littleton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | 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.