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School district comparison · MCAS 2026 · other data 2024-25

Groton-Dunstable vs Littleton Schools

How the two districts, about 8 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

The short answer

  • Overall: Groton-Dunstable ranks higher, #27 to Littleton's #48 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Littleton students score higher: ELA 62% vs 55%, Math 62% vs 61% met expectations. Statewide: 40% and 41%.
  • SAT: Groton-Dunstable averages 51 points higher (1212 vs 1161).
  • Spending: Groton-Dunstable spends $2,290 more per student ($22,031 vs $19,741).
  • Homes: Similar: single-family homes average $753K in Groton-Dunstable and $770K in Littleton. The average tax bill is $10,618 in Groton-Dunstable and $10,800 in Littleton.

MCAS results, 2026

Share of students meeting or exceeding expectations, all tested grades combined. Both districts test grades 3–10; "State" is the statewide figure for the same grades.

English Language ArtsLittleton ahead
Groton-Dunstable
55%
Littleton
62%
State
40%
MathAbout the same
Groton-Dunstable
61%
Littleton
62%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearGroton-DunstableLittletonState
202655%62%40%
202561%64%43%
202456%63%42%
202365%65%44%
202263%59%44%
202168%63%49%
Math by year
YearGroton-DunstableLittletonState
202661%62%41%
202560%62%41%
202461%58%42%
202363%56%42%
202263%53%40%
202161%50%36%

No test in 2020. Statewide 10th-grade results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement.

High school results

Average SATGroton-Dunstable ahead
Groton-Dunstable
1212
Littleton
1161
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Groton-Dunstable ahead
Groton-Dunstable
84.8%
Littleton
83.5%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateLittleton ahead
Groton-Dunstable
97.2%
Littleton
98.4%
MA avg
92.4%

Averages of each district's ranked high schools. "MA avg" is the average of all districts with high school data.

Classrooms, teachers & spending

Average class sizeHigher in Groton-Dunstable
Groton-Dunstable
18.6
Littleton
18.1
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Groton-Dunstable
95%
Littleton
95.4%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Littleton
Groton-Dunstable
8.9%
Littleton
7.5%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearLittleton ahead
Groton-Dunstable
87.4%
Littleton
90.7%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Groton-Dunstable
Groton-Dunstable
$22,031
Littleton
$19,741
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Groton-Dunstable
Groton-Dunstable
$91,218
Littleton
$90,487
MA median
$91,393

Spending is total per-pupil expenditure from all sources in FY2024. Class size is the average across all classes in the district.

Students

Groton-DunstableLittleton
Students in classes2,3241,649
English learners2.1%1.8%
Students with disabilities18.8%16.9%
White80.6%72.4%
Asian8.4%16.6%
Hispanic/Latino4.6%4.9%
Black/African American2.1%1.8%
Multi-race3.9%3.7%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Littleton
Groton-Dunstable
$753K
Littleton
$770K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Littleton
Groton-Dunstable
$10,618
Littleton
$10,800
MA median
$6,814
Dunstable
Middlesex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$745KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$9,982MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.40 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$70,544MA median $47,872
Free cash reserves7.2% of budget
Groton
Middlesex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$761KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$11,253MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$93,044MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves4.9% of budget
Littleton
Middlesex County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$770KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$10,800MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$74,176MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school95.7%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves15.5% of budget

What could you afford in either town?

FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue; for a district with several towns, the comparison uses the average of its towns. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices.

The schools

Groton-Dunstable
High schools · rank of 335
Groton Dunstable RegionalSAT 1212#37 A-
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Swallow/Union School#28 AFlorence Roche School#242 B
Littleton
High schools · rank of 335
Littleton High SchoolSAT 1161#40 A-
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Russell St Elementary#227 B