What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

Dartmouth has the most affordable homes ($497k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bedford	Dartmouth
People
Population	23,746Lowest	33,328Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.	42.5±2Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Bedford and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dartmouth and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.	$99,839±$8kLowest 24% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.	$496,500±$20kLowest 49% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.	$1,462±$159Lowest 3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.	$4,263Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#7 of 120 in NH	#115 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford School District	Dartmouth
High school in town	Bedford High School	Dartmouth High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.