Compare towns
Bedford vs Concord 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
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 | Concord | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727 |
18,223Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Concord and Upton 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% |
23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Concord and Upton 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% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6% MA: 47.3% |
79.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,400±$23k 66% above MA |
$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
| Concord 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±$43k 60% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327 49% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Concord 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 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Concord and Upton 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord 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 | #7 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Concord Carlisle High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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.