What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bedford has the most affordable homes ($899k median).

Belmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Bedford	Belmont
People
Population	14,727Lowest	27,175Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA
	Bedford and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Belmont and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Belmont and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	80.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bedford and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA	$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA
	Belmont and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$898,500±$43kLowest 60% above MA	$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA	$2,527±$105Lowest 43% above MA
	Bedford and Belmont 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	42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.6%±6.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Belmont and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Highest MA: 10%	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	31.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Bedford and Belmont 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	#7 of 282 in MA	#3 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford	Belmont
High school in town	Bedford High	Belmont High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	15.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.