Compare towns
Bedford vs Canton vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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.
| Measure | Bedford | Canton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727 |
24,748Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Bedford 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% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,400±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Bedford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Bedford and Canton 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 67% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Canton 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bedford and Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Canton High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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.