Compare towns
Carlisle vs Dover vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carlisle has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k 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 | Carlisle | Dover | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,239 |
2,308Lowest |
14,727Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1 13% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA |
| Dover and Carlisle 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% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6 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% |
83.4% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Bedford 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,103,900±$46k 96% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% 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 |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77%±21.4 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 21% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle and Dover 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 | #1 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 | 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.