Compare towns
Littleton vs Ogunquit vs Acton 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Acton has the highest household income ($158k).
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 | Ogunquit | Acton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,280 |
1,379Lowest |
24,155Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton 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 85% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Acton 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 98% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,016±$507Highest 43% above U.S. |
— | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Littleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,458 203% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Littleton and Acton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Acton 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Littleton | — | Acton-Boxborough | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Littleton High School | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | 13.5Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.