What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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	Reading	Bedford
People
Population	25,612Highest	23,746Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.
	Bedford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Reading and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Reading and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bedford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$165,912±$13kLowest 106% above U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
	Bedford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273Lowest 41% above U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
	Bedford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,320Lowest 199% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Reading 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	#50 of 282 in MA	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Reading	Bedford School District
High school in town	Reading Memorial High	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.