What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).

Peabody has the most kids (18.7% under 18).

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	Meredith	Peabody
People
Population	6,758Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S.	45.3±2.4Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peabody and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S.	$96,657±$4kHighest 20% above U.S.
	Peabody and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S.	$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S.	$5,065Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Peabody and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7% U.S.: 12.5%	7.7% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#62 of 120 in NH	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District	Peabody
High school in town	Inter-Lakes High School	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	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.