Compare towns
Pinehurst vs Concord vs Halifax 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 homeowners (97.4%).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Concord | Halifax | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,845Lowest |
18,223Highest |
7,748 |
14,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 7% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
| Concord and Bedford 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% |
23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Concord and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Pinehurst 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% |
79.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Lowest 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±$27k 41% above MA |
$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$172,400±$23k 66% above MA |
| Concord 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±$22k 11% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,946±$1k 10% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,622±$327 49% above MA |
| Concord and Bedford 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 |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Concord and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Concord 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 | — | #10 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Halifax | Bedford |
| High school in town | — | Concord Carlisle High | None in town | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.