What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has the most expensive homes ($1208k median).

Bedford has the most affordable homes ($899k median).

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	Lincoln	Bedford
People
Population	6,948Lowest	14,727Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±4.1Lowest 6% above MA	44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA
	Bedford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lincoln and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Lincoln and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Bedford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$175,117±$44kHighest 68% above MA	$172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA
	Lincoln and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,208,200±$132kHighest 115% above MA	$898,500±$43kLowest 60% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,168±$573Highest 80% above MA	$2,622±$327Lowest 49% above MA
	Lincoln and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.6%±18.5Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lincoln and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%	5.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	68.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 min 11% below MA	26 min 11% below MA
Work from home	34.2%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lincoln 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	#78 of 282 in MA	#7 of 282 in MA
School district	Lincoln · Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical	Bedford
High school in town	Minuteman Regional High	Bedford High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.1Lowest	11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.