What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).

Peabody has the most affordable homes ($596k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Needham	Peabody
People
Population	32,459Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA	45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA
	Peabody and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	35%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA	$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA	$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA	$1,950±$99Lowest 11% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$5,065Lowest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Peabody and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	7.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Needham	Peabody
High school in town	Needham High	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.