Compare towns
Littleton vs Maynard 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 expensive homes ($658k median).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Maynard | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,280 |
10,712Highest |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2 9% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 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% |
18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Maynard 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% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$31kHighest 44% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Littleton and Maynard 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 |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,016±$507Highest 14% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
| Littleton and Maynard 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Littleton 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Littleton | Maynard | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Littleton High School | Maynard High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.7Lowest |
11.5 |
| 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.