What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Douglas	Bedford
People
Population	9,207Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.
	Bedford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bedford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Douglas and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kLowest 89% above U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
	Bedford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
	Bedford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bedford and Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Douglas	Bedford School District
High school in town	Douglas High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.