Bedford vs Carlisle
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $350k more for a 4BR in Carlisle, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $350k for one tier of schooling.
Bedford is about 8 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Bedford works out roughly $4,800 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Bedford if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most.
All Bedford numbers →Choose Carlisle if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Carlisle numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsCarlisle ahead on 3 of 9, 1 against
| Bedford | Carlisle | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | top schoolsT1 |
| MCAS achievement | 91st | 99th |
| Student growth | 54th | 58th |
| Graduation rate | 98.7% | 96.8% |
| SchoolDigger rank | 29th of 361 | 3rd of 361 |
| State accountability | Substantial progress toward targets | Meeting or exceeding targets |
| Spending per pupil | $25,410 | $30,708 |
| Schools in the district | 3 | 1 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 33 | 16 |
What a home costsBedford ahead on 6 of 8, 1 against
| Bedford | Carlisle | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $1.15MT3 | $1.5MT4 |
| 3BR townhouse | $850k | $1.05M |
| 2BR condo | $630k | $775k |
| 3BR home | $941k | $1.13M |
| 5+ BR home | $1.54M | $1.93M |
| 3BR rent | $4,523/mo | $3,513/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $308k | $401k |
| 10-year price growth | 5% a year | 5.2% a year |
What you pay the townBedford ahead on 1 of 4
| Bedford | Carlisle | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $12.49T2 | $12.82T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$14,400 | ≈$19,200 |
| Town spending per resident | $8,149 | $6,878 |
| Share of budget on schools | 44% | 61% |
Getting to workBedford ahead on 2 of 3
| Bedford | Carlisle | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 44 minT2 | 52 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 15 mi | 20 mi |
Before kindergartenBedford ahead on 3 of 4
| Bedford | Carlisle | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 11 | 3 |
| Child care places | 898 | 134 |
| Centers vs family programs | 10 centers | 3 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 184 | 21 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Bedford | Carlisle | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,383 | 5,237 |
| Energy | 6/10 | 2/10 |
| Compact center | 6/10 | 2/10 |
| Family amenities | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Culture | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Gathering places | 7/10 | 5/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
