What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).

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	Wolfeboro
People
Population	54,695Highest	6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±2.4Lowest 16% above U.S.	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Peabody and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peabody and Wolfeboro 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 20% above U.S.	$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Peabody and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S.	$546,500±$60kLowest 64% above U.S.
	Peabody and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S.	$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,065Highest 62% above U.S.	$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#228 of 282 in MA	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Peabody	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Peabody Veterans Memorial High	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.