What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k 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	Milton
People
Population	23,746Lowest	28,587Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.	41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Bedford and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Milton 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%	16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	63%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$167,418±$12kLowest 107% above U.S.	$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S.
	Milton 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.	$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.	$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.	$9,677Lowest 210% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.7%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Milton 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%	4.7%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.	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.
Work from home	27%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Milton 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	#55 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford School District	Milton
High school in town	Bedford High School	Milton High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	12.4Lowest
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.