Compare towns
Millis vs Ayer vs Littleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millis has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Littleton has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Millis | Ayer | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888 |
8,645Lowest |
10,280Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.5±2 9% above MA |
| Millis and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Littleton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$149,722±$31k 44% above MA |
| Millis and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$658,300±$40kHighest 17% above MA |
| Littleton and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,016±$507Highest 14% above MA |
| Littleton and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344 56% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$9,458Highest 58% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.7%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Ayer Shirley School District | Littleton |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.5 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.