What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hull has the most people working from home (19.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peabody	Hull
People
Population	54,695Highest	10,138Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±2.4Lowest 13% above MA	56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	24.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hull 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%	50.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Peabody and Hull 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	$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA	$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA
	Hull and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,950±$99Lowest 11% above MA	$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA
	Hull 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	$6,089Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Peabody and Hull 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%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	33 minHighest 14% above MA
Work from home	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#228 of 282 in MA	#66 of 282 in MA
School district	Peabody	Hull
High school in town	Peabody Veterans Memorial High	Hull High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	8.8Lowest
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.