Compare towns
Concord vs Andover 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
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Andover has the most affordable homes ($383k median).
Bedford has the most renters (31.2% rent).
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 | Andover | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223Highest |
616Lowest |
14,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2 22% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±1.6Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Andover and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Concord and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Concord and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 142% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$172,400±$23k 114% above U.S. |
| 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 264% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$898,500±$43k 170% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,622±$327 86% above U.S. |
| 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+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Concord 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | — | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | — | Bedford |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | — | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 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.