What stands out worked out from the figures below

Littleton has the highest household income ($150k).

Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Littleton	Ayer
People
Population	10,280Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±2Highest 9% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Littleton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Littleton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Littleton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	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	$149,722±$31kHighest 44% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$658,300±$40kHighest 17% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,016±$507Highest 14% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Littleton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,458Highest 58% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Littleton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 13 yrs newer than MA	1977 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	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	#52 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Littleton	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Littleton High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	12 photos →

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.