Compare towns
Pinehurst vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,845Lowest |
32,459Highest |
14,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA |
| Bedford and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$172,400±$23k 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $623,800±$22kLowest 11% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,946±$1kLowest 10% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
| Bedford and Needham 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%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Bedford 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Bedford |
| High school in town | — | — | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.