What stands out worked out from the figures below

York has the oldest population (median age 49.5).

Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).

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	York	Bedford
People
Population	13,986Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±5.2Highest 27% above U.S.	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.
	York and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bedford and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,250±$25kLowest 50% above U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$636,400±$30kHighest 91% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S.
	York and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,490±$336Lowest 5% above U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
	Bedford and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,658Lowest 49% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	26%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bedford and York 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	#13 of 133 in ME	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	York Public Schools	Bedford School District
High school in town	York High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	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.