Compare towns
Bedford vs Hull vs Maynard 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).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
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 | Hull | Maynard | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,727 |
10,138Lowest |
10,712 |
24,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton 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% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Canton 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 |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
| Bedford and Canton 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 |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hull and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Hull | Maynard | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Hull High | Maynard High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
8.8Lowest |
9.7 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.