Compare towns
Middleton vs Newfields 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Newfields | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816 |
2,023Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Peabody and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$29k 107% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12kLowest 79% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Peabody and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785 182% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #71 of 282 in MA | — | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Newfields School District | Peabody |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.