Compare towns
Acton vs Bedford vs Pinehurst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($899k median).
Pinehurst has the most homeowners (97.4%).
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 | Acton | Bedford | Pinehurst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
14,727 |
6,845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
42.6±2Lowest 7% above MA |
| Acton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$172,400±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
$146,250±$27kLowest 41% above MA |
| Bedford and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA |
$623,800±$22kLowest 11% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,946±$1kLowest 10% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Bedford 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Bedford | — |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Bedford High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.