Compare towns
Pinehurst vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Reading | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,845Lowest |
25,612Highest |
14,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Lowest 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA |
| Bedford and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Reading 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$172,400±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
| Bedford and Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,946±$1kLowest 10% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±58.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bedford and Reading 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | Bedford |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
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.