Compare towns
Middleton vs Hanson vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Peabody has the most renters (34.4% rent).
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 | Hanson | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Lowest |
10,660 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 8% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson 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 61% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
| Peabody and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Whitman-Hanson | Peabody |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
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.