What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has the most people working from home (21.2%).

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	Freeport	Peabody
People
Population	8,802Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.	45.3±2.4Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Freeport and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Freeport and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Freeport and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Freeport and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S.	$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S.
	Freeport and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S.	$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S.
	Peabody and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S.	$5,065Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	58.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freeport and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#4 of 133 in ME	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 05	Peabody
High school in town	Freeport High School	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.3Lowest
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.