Compare towns
Concord vs Bow 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).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k 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 | Bow | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223Highest |
8,335Lowest |
14,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 22% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±1.6 14% above U.S. |
| Concord and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Concord 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% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford and Bow 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. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$172,400±$23kLowest 114% above U.S. |
| Concord and Bow 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. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$898,500±$43k 170% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$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. |
$9,584Lowest 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Concord and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Bow School District | Bedford |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Bow High School | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.8Highest |
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.