Compare towns
Bedford vs Marshfield vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($680k median).
Lincoln has the most expensive homes ($1208k 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 | Marshfield | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727 |
25,879Highest |
6,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
42.3±4.1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Marshfield and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lincoln and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lincoln and Marshfield 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% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Lincoln 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 |
$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$175,117±$44kHighest 68% above MA |
| Lincoln 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 |
$680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
$1,208,200±$132kHighest 115% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327 49% above MA |
$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$3,168±$573Highest 80% above MA |
| Lincoln and Bedford 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 |
$6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±18.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8% MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lincoln 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 | #54 of 282 in MA | #78 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Marshfield | Lincoln · Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Marshfield High | Minuteman Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
11.0 |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.