Compare towns
Middleton vs Windham 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 most expensive homes ($743k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Lowest |
16,038 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peabody and Middleton 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12kLowest 79% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,950±$99 38% above U.S. |
| 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody and Windham 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Windham School District | Peabody |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
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.