What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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	Townsend	Bedford
People
Population	9,100Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.
	Bedford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bedford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 282 in MA	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	North Middlesex	Bedford School District
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.