Compare towns
Littleton vs Ogunquit vs Ayer vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Littleton has the highest household income ($150k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
North Reading has the most kids (22.3% under 18).
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 | Ayer | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,280 |
1,379Lowest |
8,645 |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 85% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25k 83% above U.S. |
| 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±$40k 98% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24k 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,016±$507 43% above U.S. |
— | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,458 203% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #52 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Littleton | — | Ayer Shirley School District | North Reading |
| High school in town | Littleton High School | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.5 |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.