Compare towns
Lincoln vs Sutton vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the most expensive homes ($1208k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k 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.
| Measure | Lincoln | Sutton | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,948Lowest |
9,452 |
14,727Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±4.1Lowest 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6 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% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$172,400±$23k 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 |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,168±$573Highest 80% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,622±$327 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.6%±18.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lincoln and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lincoln · Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical | Sutton | Bedford |
| High school in town | Minuteman Regional High | Sutton High School | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.