Compare towns
Peabody vs Lee vs Saugus
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 kids (18.7% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Lee | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
5,719Lowest |
28,773 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
44.5±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Peabody and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average |
| Saugus and Peabody 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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
| Saugus and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Saugus and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,065 15% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Lee 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Lee and Saugus 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Lee | Saugus |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Lee Middle/High School | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
9.2Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.