What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k median).

Leominster has the most affordable homes ($380k 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	Leominster
People
Population	54,695Highest	43,909Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA	43.3±2.2Lowest 8% above MA
	Peabody and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	19%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Leominster 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%	19.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Highest MA: 47.3%	33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Leominster 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	$83,816±$7kLowest 19% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA	$380,400±$14kLowest 32% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA	$1,354±$50Lowest 23% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,065Lowest 15% below MA	$5,256Highest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%	48.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Peabody and Leominster 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%	9.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	26 minHighest 10% below MA
Work from home	10.3%±1.6Lowest 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	#233 of 282 in MA
School district	Peabody	Leominster
High school in town	Peabody Veterans Memorial High	Leominster High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	10.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.