Compare towns
Bedford vs Thompson vs Carlisle
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727Highest |
9,337 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest 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%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford and Carlisle 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 114% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43k 170% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,313±$855 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Thompson 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% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Thompson School District | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.