What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epping has the most people working from home (24%).

Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k median).

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	Epping	Peabody
People
Population	7,430Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S.	45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S.
	Peabody and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22%	18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peabody and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Epping and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S.	$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S.
	Epping and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S.	$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S.	$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S.
	Peabody and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,936Highest 122% above U.S.	$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	58.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 120 in NH	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Epping School District	Peabody
High school in town	Epping High School	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	10.3Highest
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.