Compare towns
Bedford vs Maynard vs Needham vs Ipswich
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 renters (31.2% rent).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Needham | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,727 |
10,712Lowest |
32,459Highest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich 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% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Needham 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 |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Bedford and Needham 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Ipswich 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Maynard | Needham | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Maynard High | Needham High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
9.7 |
11.9Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.