Compare towns
Bolton vs Saugus vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Bolton | Saugus | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
28,773Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 7% below U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #194 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Saugus | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Saugus High | None in town |
| 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.