Compare towns
Bedford vs Marblehead 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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 | Marblehead | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727 |
20,413Highest |
10,712Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
| Marblehead and Maynard 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% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Marblehead 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 |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
| Marblehead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
| Marblehead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Marblehead | Maynard |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Marblehead High | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
10.7 |
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.