Compare towns
Bedford vs Thompson vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($899k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727 |
9,337Lowest |
24,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford and Canton 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 114% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43kHighest 170% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Canton 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 221% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Canton 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Thompson School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
7.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.