Compare towns

Littleton vs Brooklyn vs Ayer

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Littleton has the highest household income ($150k).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).

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.

MeasureLittletonBrooklynAyer
People
Population
10,280Highest
8,517Lowest
8,645
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.5±2
12% above U.S.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
39.2±2.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
Brooklyn 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
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Littleton and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooklyn 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±$31kHighest
85% above U.S.
$96,207±$15kLowest
19% above U.S.
$101,875±$15k
26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$658,300±$40kHighest
98% above U.S.
$315,200±$28kLowest
5% below U.S.
$463,800±$29k
39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,016±$507Highest
43% above U.S.
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,415±$180
about the U.S. average
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
203% above U.S.
$4,538Lowest
45% above U.S.
$5,057
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.7%±13.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±14.2
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 min
25% above U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
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 149 in CT #113 of 282 in MA
School district Littleton Brooklyn School District Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town Littleton High School None in town Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
—
11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.