Compare towns
Boxborough vs Needham vs Littleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Littleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
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 | Boxborough | Needham | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
32,459Highest |
10,280 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.5±2Highest 9% above MA |
| Littleton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$149,722±$31k 44% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$658,300±$40kLowest 17% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173Lowest 7% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,016±$507 14% above MA |
| Needham and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,458Lowest 58% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.7%±13.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Needham | Littleton |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.