What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k 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	Marblehead
People
Population	23,746Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.	49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S.
	Marblehead and Bedford 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%	22.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Marblehead 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bedford and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$167,418±$12kLowest 107% above U.S.	$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S.
	Marblehead 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±$26kLowest 84% above U.S.	$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.	$1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S.
	Bedford and Marblehead 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.	$8,309Lowest 166% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Marblehead 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%	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	27%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Marblehead 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 120 in NH	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford School District	Marblehead
High school in town	Bedford High School	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	10.7Lowest
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.