Compare towns
Peabody vs Dedham vs Upton vs Leominster
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Leominster has the most affordable homes ($380k 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.
| Measure | Peabody | Dedham | Upton | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
25,237 |
8,189Lowest |
43,909 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.3±2.2Lowest 8% above MA |
| Upton and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody and Dedham 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% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Leominster 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 |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$83,816±$7kLowest 19% below MA |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$380,400±$14kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,354±$50 23% below MA |
| Dedham and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,256 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
26 min 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Dedham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Leominster |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Dedham High | Blackstone Valley | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.4 |
11.2Highest |
10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.