Compare towns
Billerica vs Williston vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Billerica has the most homeowners (79.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,003Highest |
10,144Lowest |
14,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.3±1.6 14% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$8k 84% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$172,400±$23kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Billerica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,000±$13k 84% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$898,500±$43kHighest 170% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,282±$173 62% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,622±$327Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Billerica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,358 104% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.3%±8.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Billerica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Billerica · Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Bedford |
| High school in town | Billerica Memorial High School | None in town | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.