Compare towns
Bedford vs Dover vs Pinehurst
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 most renters (31.2% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Pinehurst has the most affordable homes ($624k 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 | Dover | Pinehurst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727Highest |
2,308Lowest |
6,845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.6±2Lowest 7% above MA |
| Dover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Bedford 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst 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% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Bedford 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$146,250±$27kLowest 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$623,800±$22kLowest 11% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
— | $1,946±$1kLowest 10% above MA |
| Bedford and Pinehurst 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 |
$6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover 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% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
97.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bedford | — | — |
| High school in town | Bedford High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.