Compare towns
Bedford vs Sutton vs Maynard vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Lincoln has the most expensive homes ($1208k median).
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 | Sutton | Maynard | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,727Highest |
9,452 |
10,712 |
6,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
42.3±4.1Lowest 6% 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%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lincoln and Bedford 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lincoln 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% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Lincoln 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$175,117±$44kHighest 68% above MA |
| Lincoln and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$1,208,200±$132kHighest 115% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327 49% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$3,168±$573Highest 80% above MA |
| Lincoln and Bedford 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 |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±18.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lincoln and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lincoln and Bedford 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #78 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Sutton | Maynard | Lincoln · Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Sutton High School | Maynard High | Minuteman Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.6Highest |
9.7 |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.