Compare towns

Litchfield vs Acton vs Deerfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Litchfield has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).

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.

MeasureLitchfieldActonDeerfield
People
Population
8,499
24,155Highest
4,932Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+13.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±1.7
11% above U.S.
44.5±0.8Highest
14% above U.S.
42.8±4.2Lowest
10% above U.S.
Acton and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Acton and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Acton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
79.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Acton and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$162,036±$11kHighest
101% above U.S.
$158,230±$14k
96% above U.S.
$131,563±$10kLowest
63% above U.S.
Litchfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,000±$18k
46% above U.S.
$807,300±$20kHighest
143% above U.S.
$421,000±$33kLowest
27% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,138±$406Highest
51% above U.S.
$1,986±$155
41% above U.S.
$1,593±$318Lowest
13% above U.S.
Litchfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,273
165% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,369Lowest
136% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
81.5%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.7%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
17.4%±17.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Litchfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
10% above U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
35.9%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.4%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #53 of 120 in NH #13 of 282 in MA #61 of 120 in NH
School district Litchfield School District Acton-Boxborough Deerfield School District
High school in town Campbell High School Acton-Boxborough Regional High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
13.5Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.