Compare towns
Littleton vs Upton vs North Reading
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%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
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 | Upton | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,280 |
8,189Lowest |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
| Upton and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and North Reading 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Littleton and North Reading 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above 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 |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Littleton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Reading |
| High school in town | Littleton High School | Blackstone Valley | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.2 |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.