Compare towns
Peabody vs Hingham vs Middleton
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 affordable homes ($596k median).
Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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 | Hingham | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
24,283 |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
| Hingham 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Peabody and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
| Hingham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Hingham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #228 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Hingham | Middleton |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.