Compare towns
Littleton vs Hingham vs Ayer
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%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
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.
| Measure | Littleton | Hingham | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,280 |
24,283Highest |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2 9% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Littleton 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 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±$31k 44% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Hingham 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 |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,016±$507 14% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
| Hingham and Littleton 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 |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #52 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Littleton | Hingham | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Littleton High School | Hingham High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.9 |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.