What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).

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

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	Washington	Peabody
People
Population	526Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA	45.3±2.4Lowest 13% above MA
Kids under 18	13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Peabody and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%	24.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Peabody and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA	$96,657±$4kHighest 7% below MA
	Peabody and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA	$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,950±$99 11% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,381Lowest 27% below MA	$5,065Highest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Peabody and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	7.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 13% below MA	26 minHighest 11% below MA
Work from home	12.9%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Washington 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
School district	—	Peabody
High school 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.