Compare towns
Washington vs Peabody vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Peabody has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k 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.
| Measure | Washington | Peabody | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526 |
54,695Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
45.3±2.4Lowest 13% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest 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% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
35%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Peabody and Middlefield 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±$4k 7% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| Middlefield and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,950±$99Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,065Highest 15% below MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Peabody 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% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield and Washington 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 | 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.