What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

Peabody has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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	Nelson	Peabody
People
Population	648Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S.
	Peabody and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Nelson and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S.	$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S.
	Nelson and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average	$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Highest 79% above U.S.	$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Peabody and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Nelson School District	Peabody
High school 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

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.