Compare towns
Middleton vs Central Falls vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Middleton | Central Falls | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Lowest |
22,701 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Peabody and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Central Falls and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$5,065 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middleton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Peabody |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Falls Sr High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.