Compare towns
Littleton vs Plainfield vs Acton
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 most homeowners (83.6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Plainfield | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,280Lowest |
15,141 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Acton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Acton 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,016±$507Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #52 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Littleton | Plainfield School District | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Littleton High School | Plainfield High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
10.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.