Compare towns
Bedford vs Maynard vs Needham vs Swampscott
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 the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Swampscott has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,727 |
10,712Lowest |
32,459Highest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
| Maynard and Swampscott 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% |
20.1%±2.9 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% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott 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% |
62.2%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% |
4.7%±1.7 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 |
$134,386±$23k 29% 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 |
$771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above 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 |
$7,936Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Needham 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 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 | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Maynard | Needham | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Maynard High | Needham High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
9.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.