What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beverly has the most people working from home (22.3%).

Peabody has the oldest population (median age 45.3).

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	Beverly	Peabody
People
Population	42,665Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Peabody and Beverly 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%	24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	35%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average	$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA
	Beverly and Peabody 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	$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average	$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	$6,836Highest 14% above MA	$5,065Lowest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Lowest 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%	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	65.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 3% above MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#144 of 282 in MA	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Peabody
High school in town	Beverly High	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.