What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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	Lawrence
People
Population	23,746Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.	32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lawrence and Bedford 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%	10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lawrence 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.	$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.	$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.	$1,662±$50Lowest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.	$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±15.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.6%±3.6Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#7 of 120 in NH	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford School District	Lawrence
High school in town	Bedford High School	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.