What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

Bedford has the most affordable homes ($899k 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	Belmont	Bedford
People
Population	27,175Highest	14,727Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA	44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA
	Bedford and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Belmont and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Belmont and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	80.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Bedford and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA	$172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA
	Belmont and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA	$898,500±$43kLowest 60% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,527±$105Lowest 43% above MA	$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA
	Bedford and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±6.2Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belmont and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%	5.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	68.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	31.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Bedford and Belmont 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	#3 of 282 in MA	#7 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Bedford
High school in town	—	Bedford High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.