Compare towns
Littleton vs Acton vs Millis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Littleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Millis has the most affordable homes ($604k 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 | Littleton | Acton | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,280 |
24,155Highest |
8,888Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2Lowest 9% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
| Millis and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $149,722±$31kLowest 44% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
| Acton and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $658,300±$40k 17% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,016±$507Highest 14% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
| Littleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,458 58% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,344Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #52 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Littleton | Acton-Boxborough | Millis |
| High school in town | Littleton High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.