What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leominster has the most affordable homes ($380k median).

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	Leominster	Peabody
People
Population	43,909Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±2.2Lowest 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%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Leominster and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±0.8Lowest 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	$96,657±$4kHighest 7% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$380,400±$14kLowest 32% below MA	$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,354±$50Lowest 23% below MA	$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,256Highest 12% below MA	$5,065Lowest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±5.6Lowest 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%	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	65.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 10% below MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	10.9%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Leominster and Peabody 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	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Leominster	Peabody
High school in town	Leominster High School	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.