Compare towns
Peabody vs Dalton vs Attleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k median).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Attleboro has the most people working from home (14.5%).
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 | Peabody | Dalton | Attleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
6,256Lowest |
46,762 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.8±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Dalton and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Attleboro and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Attleboro and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$98,954±$6kHighest 5% below MA |
| Attleboro and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$448,100±$13k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,590±$83 10% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,065 15% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,366Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
66.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Attleboro and Dalton 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #185 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Central Berkshire | Attleboro |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Wahconah Regional High | Attleboro High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.9 |
15.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.