Compare towns

Peabody vs Plainfield vs Attleboro

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).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Attleboro has the most kids (21.9% under 18).

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.

MeasurePeabodyPlainfieldAttleboro
People
Population
54,695Highest
616Lowest
46,762
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
-2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±2.4
13% above MA
50.6±9.5Highest
27% above MA
39.8±1.4Lowest
about the MA average
Plainfield and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±1.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19%±9.3
MA: 19.4%
21.9%±2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Attleboro and Plainfield 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%
29.5%±7.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.7%±1.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Plainfield 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%
MA: 47.3%
52.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
34%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±0.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±0.8
MA: 7.9%
Plainfield and Attleboro 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
$63,500±$14kLowest
39% below MA
$98,954±$6kHighest
5% below MA
Attleboro 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±$12kHighest
6% above MA
$309,000±$47kLowest
45% below MA
$448,100±$13k
20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,950±$99Highest
11% above MA
$1,292±$558Lowest
27% below MA
$1,590±$83
10% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,065
15% below MA
$4,458Lowest
26% below MA
$5,366Highest
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±5.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
40%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48%±5.7
MA: 51.8%
Peabody and Attleboro 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%
16.9%Highest
MA: 10%
8.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
98%Highest
MA: 62.5%
66.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
2 yrs newer than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
11% below MA
38 minHighest
30% above MA
31 min
5% above MA
Work from home
10.3%±1.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
26.2%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.5%±2.1
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #228 of 282 in MA — #185 of 282 in MA
School district Peabody — Attleboro
High school in town Peabody Veterans Memorial High — Attleboro High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
—
15.3Highest
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.