Compare towns
Littleton vs North Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
Millis has the most affordable homes ($604k 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 | North Reading | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,280 |
15,765Highest |
8,888Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2 9% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest 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% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$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±$40k 17% above MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% 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±$507 14% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below 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 | $9,458 58% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$9,344Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Millis 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest 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 | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Littleton | North Reading | Millis |
| High school in town | Littleton High School | North Reading High | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.