Compare towns
Bedford vs Maynard vs Melrose
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 highest household income ($172k).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Maynard | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727 |
10,712Lowest |
29,650Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.6±1.1Lowest 9% 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Bedford and Melrose 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose 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% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Melrose 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 |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$822,900±$20k 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$7,578Lowest 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Melrose 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8% MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Bedford and Melrose 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Maynard | Melrose |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Maynard High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
9.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.