Compare towns
Belmont vs Upton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
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 | Upton | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,175Highest |
8,189Lowest |
14,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
| Upton 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Belmont and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Belmont 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,527±$105 43% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±6.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belmont | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Bedford |
| High school in town | Belmont High | Blackstone Valley | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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.