What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).

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	Townsend
People
Population	54,695Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Peabody and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend 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%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend 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	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend 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±$12kHighest 6% above MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,065Lowest 15% below MA	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Peabody and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Peabody	North Middlesex
High school in town	Peabody Veterans Memorial High	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.