Compare towns
Carlisle vs Ogunquit vs Bedford vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bedford has the most renters (31.2% rent).
Chelmsford has the most affordable homes ($594k 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 | Carlisle | Ogunquit | Bedford | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,239 |
1,379Lowest |
14,727 |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±1.6 14% above U.S. |
41.6±1.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$172,400±$23k 114% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,103,900±$46kHighest 232% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$898,500±$43k 170% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17kLowest 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
— | $2,622±$327Highest 86% above U.S. |
$2,062±$151 46% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,047 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 38.5%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Carlisle 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 | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carlisle | — | Bedford | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bedford High | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.