Compare towns
Peabody vs Hardwick 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 most expensive homes ($596k median).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Leominster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Hardwick | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
2,684Lowest |
43,909 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.3±2.2Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.9Lowest 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% |
33.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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±$4kHighest 7% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$83,816±$7k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$380,400±$14k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,354±$50 23% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,065 15% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,256Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±5.6Lowest 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% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
26 min 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Leominster and Peabody 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 | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Quabbin | Leominster |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | None in town | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| 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.