Compare towns
Bedford vs Lancaster vs Maynard
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).
Lancaster has the most homeowners (85.1%).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Lancaster | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727Highest |
8,606Lowest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
| Maynard and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bedford and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Maynard 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 |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
| Bedford and Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
| Bedford and Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Nashoba | Maynard |
| High school in town | Bedford High | None in town | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.