Compare towns
Peabody vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Saugus has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Salisbury | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
9,281Lowest |
28,773 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
44.5±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury 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% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Salisbury 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 |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% 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 |
$478,700±$27kLowest 15% 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 |
$1,691±$411Lowest 4% 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 |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Peabody 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Triton | Saugus |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | None in town | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.