What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Carlisle	Bedford
People
Population	5,239Lowest	14,727Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA	44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA
	Carlisle and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Carlisle and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Carlisle and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	87.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Bedford and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$250,001Highest 140% above MA	$172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA	$898,500±$43kLowest 60% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA	$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	1.5%Lowest MA: 10%	5.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 12 yrs newer than MA	1976 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 21% above MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Carlisle 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	#24 of 282 in MA	#7 of 282 in MA
School district	Carlisle	Bedford
High school in town	None 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.