Compare towns
Concord vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Reading | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223 |
25,612Highest |
14,727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
| 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%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Concord and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Reading 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 MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% 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 |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Reading | Bedford |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Reading Memorial High | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.1Highest |
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.