What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peabody has the most kids (18.7% under 18).

Saugus has the most people working from home (14.3%).

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	Saugus
People
Population	54,695Highest	28,773Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA	44.5±2.5Lowest 11% above MA
	Peabody and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	15.2%±2Lowest 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%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	22%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Peabody and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Saugus 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±$4kLowest 7% 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±$12kLowest 6% above 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±$99Lowest 11% above 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	$5,065Lowest 15% below MA	$6,049Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%	53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Peabody and Saugus 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%	6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Saugus 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	#194 of 282 in MA
School district	Peabody	Saugus
High school in town	Peabody Veterans Memorial High	Saugus High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	15.5Highest
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.