Compare towns
Middleton vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Strafford | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816 |
4,306Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Peabody 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% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peabody and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peabody and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Strafford 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. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Peabody and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Peabody 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Middleton 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Strafford 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 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.