Compare towns
Bedford vs Hanson vs Pinehurst vs Canton
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 expensive homes ($899k median).
Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k median).
Pinehurst has the most homeowners (97.4%).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Hanson | Pinehurst | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,727 |
10,660 |
6,845Lowest |
24,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
42.6±2Lowest 7% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Bedford and Hanson 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% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Hanson 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% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Pinehurst 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 |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$146,250±$27k 41% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
| Bedford and Pinehurst 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 |
$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
$623,800±$22k 11% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA |
$1,946±$1k 10% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Whitman-Hanson | — | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.