Compare towns
Concord vs Windham vs Acton 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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Windham | Acton | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,223 |
19,188 |
24,155Highest |
14,727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 22% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.6 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 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. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% 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. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$898,500±$43k 170% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% 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. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #13 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | RSU 14 | Acton-Boxborough | Bedford |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Windham High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.1 |
13.5Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.