What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

Bedford has the most renters (31.2% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Andover	Bedford
People
Population	36,652Highest	14,727Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA	44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA
	Bedford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Bedford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA	$172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA
	Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kLowest 52% above MA	$898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA
	Bedford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA	$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA
	Bedford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	42%±9.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Bedford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	5.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Bedford and Andover 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	#68 of 282 in MA	#7 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Bedford
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Bedford High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.