Compare towns
Littleton vs Ayer 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 the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Millis has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,280Highest |
8,645Lowest |
8,888 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2 9% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
| Millis and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis 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 |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
| Millis 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±$40kHighest 17% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
| Littleton and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,016±$507Highest 14% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
| Littleton and Millis 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 |
$9,344 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% 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 minHighest 14% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest 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 | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Littleton | Ayer Shirley School District | Millis |
| High school in town | Littleton High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.5 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.