Compare towns
Leominster vs Lunenburg vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leominster has the most affordable homes ($380k median).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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.
| Measure | Leominster | Lunenburg | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,909 |
11,902Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.2 8% above MA |
43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Peabody and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Leominster and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,816±$7kLowest 19% below MA |
$112,828±$11kHighest 9% above MA |
$96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $380,400±$14kLowest 32% below MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,354±$50Lowest 23% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,256 12% below MA |
$6,401Highest 7% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lunenburg and Leominster 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 | #233 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Leominster | Lunenburg | Peabody |
| High school in town | Leominster High School | Lunenburg High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
12.4Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.