Compare towns
Ayer vs Lyndeborough 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).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Littleton has the most expensive 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 | Ayer | Lyndeborough | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,616Lowest |
10,280Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.5±2 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%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% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$149,722±$31kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Littleton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$658,300±$40kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$2,016±$507Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Littleton and Lyndeborough 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. |
$7,133 129% 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%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Littleton and Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | 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 → | 7 photos → | 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.