Compare towns
Littleton vs Ayer vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Littleton has the most homeowners (83.6%).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Ayer | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,280 |
8,645Lowest |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2 9% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Acton and Littleton 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% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest 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%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $149,722±$31k 44% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
| Acton and Littleton 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 |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,016±$507Highest 14% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above 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 |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Littleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #52 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Littleton | Ayer Shirley School District | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Littleton High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.