What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k 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	Naples
People
Population	23,746Highest	3,985Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.	49.8±6.8Highest 28% above U.S.
	Naples 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%	15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Naples 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%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bedford and Naples 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.	$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.	$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.	$1,941±$625Lowest 37% above U.S.
	Bedford and Naples 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.	$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±15.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Naples 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%	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	38 minHighest 45% above U.S.
Work from home	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	26.7%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bedford and Naples 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	#118 of 133 in ME
School district	Bedford School District	RSU 61/MSAD 61
High school in town	Bedford High School	Lake Region High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	11.7Lowest
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.