For Buyers:
Peabody's 1.1 months of supply is one of the tightest reads around: there is very little sitting on the market, and homes that are well priced sell in about 18 days. Come ready to act on real evidence, because a house here does not wait.
Community Guide
Peabody, MA
What's in this guide
Jump straight to the section you need, from the Leather City and the greenway to the market numbers, Kathleen's take, and the FAQ.
Peabody at a Glance The Leather City, the mall, and what sets it apart. Quick Facts The numbers that frame the city, in one glance. Living in Peabody Daily life between downtown and the Route 128 corridor. Things to Do & Dining The mall, the farm, the greenway, and local dining. Market & Kathleen's Take Peabody listings, sales, and what the numbers mean. FAQ Quick answers on commuting, schools, and buying in Peabody. Resources Official city, school, and transit links.
Peabody
Peabody at a Glance
This guide covers what it is actually like to live in Peabody, Massachusetts: a leather-working city of 54,481 people on Boston's North Shore that today is a full-service hub with malls, a farm, and a greenway bike path. Peabody is one of the communities Kathleen serves, and it is the market to understand if you want a big, active city without coastal prices.
Peabody was settled in 1626 as part of Salem, set off in 1855 as South Danvers, and renamed for philanthropist George Peabody in 1868. Its tanneries made it the Leather City, and that working history still shapes downtown. Today it is better known for the Northshore Mall, Brooksby Farm, and the Independence Greenway, and the Peabody Essex Museum sits just across the line in Salem.
Leather City
Century of tannery history that shaped the city
Northshore Mall
One of New England's largest malls
Brooksby Farm
City-run farm, orchards, and seasonal events
Independence Greenway
Miles of paved bike path through town
Peabody
Quick Facts About Peabody
The numbers that frame the city, in one glance.
| County | Essex County |
|---|---|
| Region | Boston's North Shore |
| Residents | 54,481 (2020 Census) |
| Distance to Boston | About 16 miles north |
| ZIP Code | 01960 |
| Settled | 1626 (as part of Salem); incorporated 1855 |
| Government | Mayor-Council; city since 1916 |
| Known For | Northshore Mall, Leather City history, Independence Greenway |
Peabody
Living in Peabody
Life in Peabody is organized around its size and location. The Northshore Mall anchors Route 128 commerce, the Independence Greenway carries walkers and riders for miles, and Brooksby Farm gives the city a working-farm weekend destination. Downtown holds historic buildings, restaurants, and the theater that anchors Main Street.
Housing runs the full range, from older city homes near downtown to ranch and colonial neighborhoods west of the mall, with condos throughout. Peabody Public Schools serve the city, and there is no rail station in town; the closest stop is Salem Station on the Newburyport/Rockport Line, with MBTA buses connecting Peabody. My commuter rail guide covers how the commute works if rail matters to you.
Peabody
Things to Do & Dining in Peabody
A few real Peabody stops, from the mall to downtown, to start from.
Peabody
Peabody Real Estate Market Snapshot
Public real-estate data for Peabody, Massachusetts, September 2026 (not an official MAR report).
Peabody Market Snapshot (2026)
~$677,000
Median Sale Price (July 2026, Redfin)
~2%
Year Over Year Change (down)
~18 days
Typical Days on Market
~1.1
Months Supply of Inventory
Peabody's public-market reading for 2026: a median sale price around $677,000 as of July 2026 per Redfin, down roughly 2% from a year earlier. Homes typically sell in about 18 days, and months of supply sits around 1.1, a very tight market.
Figures from public real-estate data (Redfin, Zillow, September 2026) and are approximate. Not an official MAR report.
Kathleen's Take on the Peabody Market
For Sellers:
The median eased slightly year over year, but with roughly 18 days on market and inventory at 1.1 months, demand is still there for the right home. In a town as active as Peabody, honest pricing and presentation separate the buyers who stay from the ones who pass.
What I Watch:
I watch months of supply and days on market together. At 1.1 months of supply, the market is undersupplied, and that tension between a flat median and a very tight market is exactly where pricing strategy wins.
Thinking about making a move on the North Shore? Ask Kathleen, or book a call, and she will walk you through what is happening in Peabody right now.
Peabody
FAQ: Peabody, Massachusetts
Peabody questions people actually ask. Clear answers to the most common questions about living in this city.
01 Is Peabody, MA a good place to live?
Yes, for buyers who want a large, well-located city with everything nearby. Peabody is a city of 54,481 people about 16 miles north of Boston, with the Northshore Mall, the Independence Greenway, Brooksby Farm, and the Peabody Essex Museum just next door in Salem.
02 What is Peabody known for?
Peabody was the Leather City, the world's largest leather and tanning center for much of the 19th and 20th centuries, and today it is known for the Northshore Mall, Brooksby Farm, the Independence Greenway bike path, and a historic downtown that is working to come back.
03 How far is Peabody from Boston?
About 16 miles north of Boston. Peabody has no MBTA rail station of its own; the closest is Salem Station on the Newburyport/Rockport Line, with MBTA bus routes serving the city.
04 Does Peabody have a train station?
No. Peabody has no active MBTA station of its own. The nearest stop is Salem Station on the Newburyport/Rockport Line, and MBTA bus routes connect Peabody to nearby rail.
05 What schools serve Peabody?
Peabody Public Schools serve the city from pre-K through high school, including Peabody Veterans Memorial High School.
06 Where can I find homes for sale in Peabody?
Explore Peabody homes for sale through Kathleen Militello, Realtor with eXp Realty, on her website, Essex County Homes for Sale.
Comparing towns? My full guides to Danvers and Salem cover the neighboring communities, and the hub page for Coastal Communities links every North Shore town Kathleen serves.
Peabody
Official Peabody Resources
Authoritative first-party sources for Peabody information. These links go directly to official websites.
- City of Peabody Official municipal website
- Peabody Public Schools City schools
- MBTA Newburyport/Rockport Line Commuter rail schedules
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center Official flood maps
- Essex County Homes for Sale Kathleen's North Shore listings
Next step
Thinking about Peabody? Let's talk.
A conversation is the fastest way to see which Peabody fits you: a downtown condo, a ranch near the greenway, or a house near Brooksby Farm. You do not have to decide anything before we talk.