Compare towns
Concord vs Acton vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Concord | Acton | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223 |
24,155Highest |
14,727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Concord and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$172,400±$23k 66% above MA |
| Concord and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,622±$327 49% above MA |
| Concord and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 | 53.2%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Concord and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Acton 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Acton-Boxborough | Bedford |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
13.5Highest |
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.