Compare towns
Berlin vs Middlesex vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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.
| Measure | Berlin | Middlesex | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,943Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Saugus |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.