Compare towns
Billerica 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
Billerica has the youngest population (median age 43.3).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Bedford has the most expensive 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.
| Measure | Billerica | Upton | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,003Highest |
8,189Lowest |
14,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.6Lowest 8% 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 | 18%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Billerica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,200±$8kLowest 43% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$172,400±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
| Bedford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,000±$13k 9% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,282±$173 30% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
| Bedford and Billerica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,358Lowest 6% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.3%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Billerica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bedford and Upton 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 | #146 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Billerica · Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Bedford |
| High school in town | Billerica Memorial High School | Blackstone Valley | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
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.