What stands out worked out from the figures below

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).

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	Everett	Bedford
People
Population	50,045Highest	23,746Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S.	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Everett and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$610,000±$23kLowest 83% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
	Bedford and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$69Lowest 47% above U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
	Bedford and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#264 of 282 in MA	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Everett	Bedford School District
High school in town	Everett High	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.