About
Life in Peabody
Peabody offers a solid middle ground if you're looking for a North Shore location with real community character and manageable access to Boston without living in the city itself. Your median home hovers around $596,000 and median rent around $1,900 a month—not cheap, but reasonable for the Boston area—and the job market is steady with a 4.4% unemployment rate and major employers including hospitals and established manufacturing firms. The commute to Boston averages about 27 minutes, which is doable but something to factor in if you're working downtown regularly.
Peabody at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.7%
Foreign-Born
17.3%
Broadband Internet
91.4%
of households
Population Growth
+2.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.3% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Peabody: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Peabody, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (19.5%), and 9.7% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
18.7%
of residents
65 and Older
24.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.5%
of households
Married Couples
45.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.41
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 11% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Peabody
In Peabody, rent runs 11% above the MA average, and home values are 6% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
33.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,065
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1966
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $691,379 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MA
Unemployment in Peabody
Unemployment in Peabody is close to the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Peabody Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.8 min avg
How Peabody residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Peabody, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 11% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Peabody runs 11% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
291.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
626.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Peabody Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Essex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Essex County, which includes Peabody, the most common type is strong wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,700 |
| 2024 | 9 | High Wind | $3,500 |
| 2023 | 18 | Heavy Snow | $21,500 |
| 2022 | 19 | Strong Wind | $140,700 |
| 2021 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $261,900 |
| 2020 | 37 | High Wind | $63,100 |
| 2019 | 26 | Strong Wind | $171,950 |
| 2018 | 34 | Strong Wind | $564,200 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Essex County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Essex County, which includes Peabody, is typically good — 296 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
296
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Essex County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Peabody has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.1"
Annual Snowfall
47.8"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
126
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 20°F | 3.15" |
| Feb | 39°F | 21°F | 2.93" |
| Mar | 45°F | 28°F | 4.17" |
| Apr | 57°F | 37°F | 4.27" |
| May | 67°F | 47°F | 3.42" |
| Jun | 76°F | 56°F | 3.83" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 3.45" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 3.27" |
| Sep | 73°F | 53°F | 3.62" |
| Oct | 62°F | 42°F | 4.54" |
| Nov | 51°F | 34°F | 4.01" |
| Dec | 42°F | 26°F | 4.23" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Peabody
Uninsured
2.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Peabody's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
North Shore Medical Center -
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.6 mi away · Salem
Northeast Hospital Corporation
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Beverly
Melrosewakefield Healthcare
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Melrose
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Peabody
Peabody's student/teacher ratio is 12.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 35.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Peabody (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,601 students · in-state tuition $64,796 · 98% graduate · median earnings $121,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,468 students · in-state tuition $54,000 · 61% graduate · median earnings $43,451 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,061 students · in-state tuition $73,616 · 94% graduate · median earnings $89,187 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Salem Maritime National Historical Park, 4 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Peabody
Peabody has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Salem Maritime National Historical Park (4 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
4 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
5 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
12 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
13 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
13 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
16 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
17 mi awayPublic Libraries in Peabody
Peabody Institute Library
82 Main St., Peabody
South Branch
78 Lynn Street, Peabody
West Branch
603 Lowell St., Peabody
Cities Near Peabody
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Peabody?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Peabody FAQ
Is Peabody, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Peabody's median rent is $1,950/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $96,657/year. Median home value is $596,200.
Is Peabody, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Peabody's violent crime rate was 292 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 627 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Peabody, Massachusetts?⌄
Peabody has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Peabody, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Peabody is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,950/month and median household income is $96,657/year. The median home value is $596,200. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Peabody, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Peabody is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from