What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).

Peabody has the most expensive 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	Westminster	Peabody
People
Population	8,374Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA	45.3±2.4Lowest 13% above MA
	Westminster and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Westminster and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%	24.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Westminster and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	35%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average	$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA
	Westminster and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA	$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,843±$268Lowest 5% above MA	$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA
	Peabody and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Lowest 17% below MA	$5,065Highest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%	58.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Westminster and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%	7.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 7% below MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	12.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Westminster 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	#112 of 282 in MA	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashburnham-Westminster	Peabody
High school in town	Oakmont Regional High School	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.