Compare towns
Peabody vs Thompson vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peabody has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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.
| Measure | Peabody | Thompson | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
9,337Lowest |
28,773 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4 16% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 79% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| 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 38% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
| 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 62% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saugus and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Thompson School District | Saugus |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
7.9Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.