What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).

Bedford has the most affordable homes ($612k median).

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	23,746Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S.	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.
	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 U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	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 U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.	$167,418±$12kLowest 107% above U.S.
	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±$22kHighest 157% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S.	$2,099±$274Lowest 49% above U.S.
	Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$9,803Lowest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Andover 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	#68 of 282 in MA	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Bedford School District
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.