What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k 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	Peabody	Hardwick
People
Population	54,695Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±2.4 13% above MA	45.3±9.8 13% above MA
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick and Peabody 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%	22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Peabody and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Highest MA: 47.3%	30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick 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±$4kHighest 7% below MA	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA
	Peabody and Hardwick 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	$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA	$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,065Highest 15% below MA	$4,400Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	10.3%±1.6Highest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Peabody and Hardwick 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	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Peabody	Quabbin
High school in town	Peabody Veterans Memorial High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.