What are the schools like in Peabody, MA?

Peabody is served primarily by Peabody. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.3:1.

What is the median household income in Peabody?

The median household income in Peabody, MA is $91,125 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.4%.

What is the weather like in Peabody, MA?

Peabody has an average high temperature of 36.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 47.8 inches.

Peabody, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Peabody, MA affordable or expensive?

Peabody's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Peabody is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $508,400 and the median rent is $1,795 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Peabody, MA?

Peabody has a violent crime rate of 254.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 836.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Peabody, MA a Good Place to Live?

Peabody is a mid-sized city of 54,204 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $91,125 and a 4.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Peabody stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices. Whether Peabody is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Peabody city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.6

Peabody's overall cost of living index is 111.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Peabody costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Peabody, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$508,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,795	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$91,125	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Peabody's violent crime rate is 254.7 per 100,000 residents — 33% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

254.7 /100k

Property Crime

836.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Peabody is served primarily by Peabody. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Peabody, MA	National Avg
School District	Peabody	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	34.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Peabody sees average highs of 36.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July, with 49.1 inches of annual precipitation and 47.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Peabody, MA
Average High — January	36.2°F
Average High — July	81.8°F
Annual Precipitation	49.1"
Annual Snowfall	47.8"

Demographics

Metric	Peabody, MA	National Avg
Population	54,204	—
Median Age	46.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	8.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.6%	6.3%
Under 18	17.7%	22.2%
65 and over	24.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Danvers, MA 3 mi Lynnfield, MA 4 mi Lynn, MA 4 mi Salem, MA 4 mi Saugus, MA 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Peabody

Peabody, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

01960

Peabody vs Other Cities

Peabody, MA vs Danvers, MA Peabody, MA vs Lynnfield, MA Peabody, MA vs Lynn, MA Peabody, MA vs Salem, MA Peabody, MA vs Saugus, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Peabody, MA affordable or expensive?

Peabody's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Peabody roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $508,400 and median rent is $1,795/month.

What is the crime rate in Peabody, MA?

Peabody's violent crime rate is 254.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 836.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Peabody?

Public schools in Peabody are operated by Peabody. The district has 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 34.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Peabody, MA a good place to live?

Peabody, MA has a population of 54,204, a median household income of $91,125, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Peabody?

Peabody averages 36.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.1 inches with about 47.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Peabody?

Peabody, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 01960.

What is the population of Peabody?

The population of Peabody, Massachusetts is 54,204 with a median age of 46.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Peabody?

Key numbers for living in Peabody: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $508,400, median household income $91,125, crime index 56 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Peabody side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.