What stands out worked out from the figures below

Littleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).

North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Littleton	North Reading
People
Population	10,280Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±2Highest 9% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
	Littleton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading 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%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Littleton and North Reading 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%	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Littleton and North Reading 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	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA
	Littleton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$658,300±$40kLowest 17% above MA	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
	North Reading and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,016±$507Lowest 14% above MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
	North Reading and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,458Lowest 58% above MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 14% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading 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	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Littleton	North Reading
High school in town	Littleton High School	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	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.