Compare towns
Beverly vs Hudson vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Beverly | Hudson | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
20,077Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Peabody and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Beverly and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
| Peabody and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Hudson 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Hudson | Peabody |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Hudson High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.2Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.