Compare towns
Pinehurst vs Bolton vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pinehurst has the most affordable homes ($624k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Bedford has the most renters (31.2% rent).
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 | Pinehurst | Bolton | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,845 |
5,737Lowest |
14,727Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 7% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA |
| Bedford and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,250±$27kLowest 41% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$172,400±$23k 66% above MA |
| Bolton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $623,800±$22kLowest 11% above MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
$898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,946±$1k 10% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
| Bedford and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±58.1 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bedford and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.7% MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton 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 | — | #28 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Bedford |
| High school in town | — | Nashoba Regional | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.