Compare towns
Littleton vs Putnam 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
Littleton has the highest household income ($150k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
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 | Putnam | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,280Highest |
9,292 |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2 12% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Littleton and Ayer 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $658,300±$40kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,016±$507Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Littleton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,458Highest 203% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Littleton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Littleton and Ayer 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Littleton | Putnam School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Littleton High School | Putnam High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.