What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).

Peabody has the most affordable homes ($596k 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	Topsfield	Peabody
People
Population	6,564Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA	45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA
	Peabody and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%	18.7%±1.8Lowest 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+	22.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.3%±1.7Highest 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+	71.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	35%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Peabody and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA	$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA	$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA	$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$5,065Lowest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Peabody and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest MA: 10%	7.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#172 of 282 in MA	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Topsfield	Peabody
High school in town	None in town	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.3
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.