What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k median).

Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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	Webster
People
Population	54,695Highest	17,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA	39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Webster 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%	19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Highest MA: 47.3%	25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Webster 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±$4kHighest 7% below MA	$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA	$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA	$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,065Highest 15% below MA	$3,999Lowest 33% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%	45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Peabody and Webster 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%	12.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	59.8%Lowest 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	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	10.3%±1.6Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Peabody and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	Peabody	Webster
High school in town	Peabody Veterans Memorial High	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.6Highest
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.