What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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	Bedford	Douglas
People
Population	14,727Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA	44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA
	Bedford and Douglas 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%	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Bedford and Douglas 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%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bedford and Douglas 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	$152,267±$10kLowest 46% above MA
	Bedford and Douglas 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	$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±9.5Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Bedford and Douglas 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%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#7 of 282 in MA	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford	Douglas
High school in town	Bedford High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	7.2Lowest
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.