What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Millis has the oldest population (median age 46.4).

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	Millis
People
Population	23,746Highest	8,888Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.	46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S.
	Millis 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%	18.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and Millis 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%	23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Millis 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%	54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Millis 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.	$155,996±$9kLowest 93% above U.S.
	Bedford and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.	$603,500±$31kLowest 81% above U.S.
	Bedford and Millis 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.	$1,696±$279Lowest 20% above U.S.
	Bedford and Millis 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.	$9,344Lowest 200% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.5%±16.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Millis 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%	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#7 of 120 in NH	#63 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford School District	Millis
High school in town	Bedford High School	Millis High School
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.