Peabody (01960) vs Westfield (01085): Comparing Massachusetts’ Two Hottest ZIP Codes

Realtor.com named Peabody the #1 hottest ZIP code in America for 2026, and Westfield #5. Both are Massachusetts suburbs with strong buyer demand, but at very different price points. Peabody sits on the North Shore, about 15 miles from Boston. Westfield is in western Massachusetts near Springfield.

Here’s how they compare on public data. This is context, not a recommendation.

Updated October 6, 2026

At a glance

Measure	Peabody 01960	Westfield 01085
Realtor.com 2026 rank	#1	#5
Median listing price (Realtor.com, H1 2026)	$600,000	$381,000
Median home value (Census ACS 5-yr)	$566,700	$296,300
Median gross rent	$1,902	$1,064
Median household income	$95,173	$83,821
Homeownership rate	65%	69%
Median age	46.4	39.2
Residents per sq mi	3,369	694
EPA walkability (1–20)	10.2	6.2
Mean commute	27.3 min	26.4 min
Area in FEMA high-risk flood zone	10.7%	10.6%
Hospitals within 10 mi	3	1
EPA-reported release facilities within 10 mi	32	15
Consilium crime concern (0–10)	4.34	4.27

Census figures are 5-year estimates, so they trail today’s prices. Realtor.com’s listing prices are the better read on the current market. Density figures are ZIP Code Tabulation Area counts, not separate citywide densities.

Housing and cost

Peabody costs more. Its median listing price was $600,000, and homes sold slightly above asking even as many U.S. markets saw discounts. Westfield’s median listing price was $381,000. The rent gap is wider: $1,902 a month in Peabody vs $1,064 in Westfield.

The two ZIPs have similar housing stock, with median homes built in the mid-1960s, and similar homeownership rates (65% and 69%). Westfield skews younger, with a median age of 39 vs 46 in Peabody.

Getting around

Both are car-dependent; about 88% of workers in each drive. Peabody is denser and more walkable, scoring 10.2 on the EPA walkability index vs 6.2 for Westfield. Mean commutes are nearly identical at about 27 minutes.

Flood risk

Flood exposure is the standout shared risk. About 11% of each ZIP falls in FEMA’s high-risk flood zone, roughly three times Montclair’s or Sewell’s share. A home in that zone with a federally backed mortgage requires flood insurance. Check the exact parcel before you make an offer.

Most of the rest of Peabody is unmapped by FEMA, not labeled as minimal hazard. Westfield’s remaining area is mostly mapped as minimal hazard. The high-risk share is the comparable figure.

Nearby industry and hospitals

Peabody has more industrial facilities nearby: 9 EPA-reported release facilities within 5 miles and 32 within 10 miles. Westfield has 5 and 15. The closest larger releases in the report:

Peabody: ITW Performance Polymers, 2.5 miles away, about 1,660 lbs released on-site.
Westfield: Westfield Electroplating, 2.1 miles away, 750 lbs; RPM Wood Finishes, 3.0 miles away, about 660 lbs.

Consilium’s environmental concern scores are close: 8.46 for Peabody and 8.26 for Westfield.

Peabody has 3 hospitals within 10 miles. The nearest is North Shore Medical Center in Salem, 5.2 miles away. Westfield has 1, Holyoke Medical Center, 7.7 miles away.

Schools

Peabody’s ZIP is served entirely by Peabody Public Schools, with 11 public schools in the ZIP. Westfield’s ZIP is mostly Westfield Public Schools (about 78%), with about 22% in the Gateway Regional district. Confirm the district for a specific address.

Safety context

Consilium’s crime concern scores are nearly identical: 4.34 for Peabody and 4.27 for Westfield, both in the medium range. FBI figures for 2023 add up within each city: Peabody has 268.9 violent crimes and 824.6 property crimes per 100,000 residents, totaling 1,093.5. Westfield has 198.0 violent and 811.8 property, totaling 1,009.8. The totals are close. Peabody’s violent rate is higher. These rates cover each police department’s jurisdiction, not only the ZIP. NHTSA records show 9 traffic deaths in Peabody’s ZIP and 10 in Westfield’s from 2020 to 2024.

Climate

Westfield is a little colder and wetter. Its average January temperature is about 27°F vs 30°F in Peabody, and it gets about 51 inches of precipitation a year vs 48.

FAQ

Why is Peabody, MA the hottest ZIP code in 2026?

Realtor.com ranked 01960 #1 based on listing views and selling speed. Homes sold in about 20 days, and 70% of viewers were from the Boston area.

Is Peabody or Westfield cheaper?

Westfield. Its 2026 median listing price was $381,000 vs $600,000 in Peabody, and median rent is about $840 a month lower.

Are Peabody and Westfield in flood zones?

Parts of both are. About 11% of each ZIP’s area is in FEMA’s high-risk flood zone. Most of the rest of Peabody is unmapped rather than labeled minimal hazard. Check the specific address.

Does Peabody or Westfield have more crime?

Consilium’s crime concern scores are close: 4.34 in Peabody and 4.27 in Westfield. FBI figures for 2023 are 268.9 violent and 824.6 property crimes per 100,000 in Peabody, totaling 1,093.5, and 198.0 violent and 811.8 property in Westfield, totaling 1,009.8.

What school district is Westfield, MA 01085 in?

Most of the ZIP is in Westfield Public Schools; about 22% falls in the Gateway Regional School District.

The New Jersey pair on the same list is Montclair vs Sewell. All four ZIPs are on the hottest ZIP codes page.

Sources: Realtor.com 2026 Hottest ZIP Codes; U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates; EPA Smart Location Database; FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer; EPA Toxics Release Inventory; NHTSA FARS; NCES; FBI crime data. Consilium Compare provides context, not a recommendation or ranking of where to live.