Compare towns
Bedford vs Needham vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Amherst has the most affordable homes ($538k 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.
| Measure | Bedford | Needham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
32,459Highest |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Amherst 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% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kLowest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256Lowest 3% 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 | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,773Lowest 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Needham | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Needham High | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.9 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.