Compare towns
Hudson vs Beverly vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Hudson | Beverly | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Lowest |
42,665 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
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 | 19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$106,044±$7kHighest 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 | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,771±$106 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 | $6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 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 | 5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Beverly | Peabody |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Beverly High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
12.2Highest |
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.