Compare towns
Peabody vs Topsfield vs Dedham
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 renters (34.4% rent).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Topsfield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
6,564Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Peabody 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% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody and Topsfield 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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 |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Dedham 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% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and Dedham 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Topsfield | Dedham |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| 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.