Compare towns
Bedford vs Dunstable vs Carlisle
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).
Dunstable has the most affordable homes ($674k median).
Carlisle has the most expensive homes ($1104k 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 | Dunstable | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727Highest |
3,408Lowest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
| Carlisle 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% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Dunstable 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%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle 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% |
62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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±$23kLowest 66% above MA |
$208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
$674,000±$30kLowest 20% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,020Lowest 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Dunstable 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% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
1.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
93.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Groton-Dunstable | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Bedford High | None in town | None in town |
| 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.