Compare towns
Belmont vs Acton vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belmont has the most expensive homes ($1159k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Bedford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Belmont | Acton | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,175Highest |
24,155 |
14,727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
| Acton and Bedford 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% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Belmont and Acton 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% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6 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% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$172,400±$23k 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 |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,527±$105 43% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% 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 |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±6.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #3 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belmont | Acton-Boxborough | Bedford |
| High school in town | Belmont High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
13.5 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.