What stands out worked out from the figures below

Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k 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	Naples	Bedford
People
Population	3,985Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.8±6.8Highest 28% above U.S.	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Naples and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Naples and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bedford and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,941±$625Lowest 37% above U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
	Bedford and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Naples and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 45% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	26.7%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bedford and Naples 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	#118 of 133 in ME	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 61/MSAD 61	Bedford School District
High school in town	Lake Region High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	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.