What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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	Everett
People
Population	23,746Lowest	50,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.	35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S.
Kids under 18	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Everett and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.	$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.	$610,000±$23kLowest 83% above U.S.
	Bedford and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.	$2,076±$69Lowest 47% above U.S.
	Bedford and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.	$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Everett 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%	14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.
Work from home	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#7 of 120 in NH	#264 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford School District	Everett
High school in town	Bedford High School	Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	12.1Lowest
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.