What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).

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	Reading
People
Population	54,695Highest	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±2.4Lowest 16% above U.S.	51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S.
	Reading and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Peabody and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Reading 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 U.S.: 35.7%	46%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peabody and Reading 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 20% above U.S.	$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Peabody and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S.	$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S.	$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S.	$5,754Highest 84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#228 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Peabody	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	Peabody Veterans Memorial High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.