What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Andover has the most expensive homes ($733k 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	North Andover	Bedford
People
Population	31,490Highest	23,746Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bedford and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,670±$9kLowest 74% above U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S.	$2,099±$274Lowest 49% above U.S.
	North Andover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,767Lowest 149% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	20.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#98 of 282 in MA	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	North Andover	Bedford School District
High school in town	North Andover High	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Lowest	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.