Compare towns
Bedford vs Everett vs Lawrence vs Windham
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 people working from home (27%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lawrence has the most affordable homes ($415k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k 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 | Everett | Lawrence | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
50,045 |
88,736Highest |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Lawrence 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%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Everett and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Windham 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 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Everett | Lawrence | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Everett High | Lawrence High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.1Lowest |
13.6Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.