Compare towns
Bedford vs Pinehurst vs Stoneham
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 expensive homes ($899k median).
Pinehurst has the most homeowners (97.4%).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Pinehurst | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727 |
6,845Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA |
42.6±2 7% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Bedford and Pinehurst 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% |
19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Stoneham 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% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Pinehurst 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 |
$146,250±$27k 41% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Bedford and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA |
$623,800±$22kLowest 11% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,946±$1kLowest 10% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Bedford and Stoneham 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Bedford and Stoneham 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Bedford High | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.