Compare towns
Hadley vs Peabody vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the most people working from home (20.1%).
Peabody has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k 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.
| Measure | Hadley | Peabody | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
54,695Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
45.3±2.4Lowest 13% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
| Rowley and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Peabody and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
28 minHighest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Rowley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Peabody | Triton |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
10.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.