What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bedford has the most affordable homes ($899k median).

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bedford	Needham
People
Population	14,727Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA
	Bedford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.1%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Bedford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Lowest 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±$23kLowest 66% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$898,500±$43kLowest 60% above MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA	$2,409±$183Lowest 37% 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+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#7 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford	Needham
High school in town	Bedford High	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.