Compare towns
Bedford vs Sutton vs Upton 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 affordable homes ($523k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Upton | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,727Highest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
6,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% 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 |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.3±4.1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Upton 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%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lincoln and Upton 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%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lincoln and Upton 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% |
53.5% 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% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,208,200±$132kHighest 115% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327 49% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$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 |
$8,376 40% 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% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±18.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lincoln and Upton 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% 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 |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #78 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lincoln · Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Minuteman Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
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.