What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bedford has the most affordable homes ($612k median).

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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	Needham
People
Population	23,746Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Bedford and Needham 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%	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bedford and Needham 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%	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham 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±$12kLowest 107% above U.S.	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S.	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,099±$274Lowest 49% above U.S.	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.
	Needham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,803Lowest 214% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Needham 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%	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	27%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Needham 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	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford School District	Needham
High school in town	Bedford High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	11.9Lowest
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.