What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holbrook has the most affordable homes ($465k median).

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	Holbrook	Bedford
People
Population	11,380Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S.	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.
	Bedford and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bedford and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Holbrook and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,210±$14kLowest 43% above U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,400±$21kLowest 40% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,105Lowest 96% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#234 of 282 in MA	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Holbrook	Bedford School District
High school in town	Holbrook Middle High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	13.5Lowest
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.