What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

South Hadley has the most people working from home (17.3%).

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	South Hadley
People
Population	54,695Highest	17,754Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA	42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA
	Peabody and South Hadley 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%	12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Peabody and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Lowest MA: 47.3%	50.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,657±$4kHighest 7% below MA	$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA
	Peabody and South Hadley 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	$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA	$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,065Lowest 15% below MA	$5,500Highest 8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%	48.7%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Peabody and South Hadley 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%	7.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 11% below MA	24 minLowest 19% below MA
Work from home	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.3%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#228 of 282 in MA	#216 of 282 in MA
School district	Peabody	South Hadley
High school in town	Peabody Veterans Memorial High	South Hadley High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	8.6Lowest
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.