What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derby	Saugus
People
Population	12,487Lowest	28,773Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.	44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Derby and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Saugus and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Saugus and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derby and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S.	$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Lowest 77% above U.S.	$6,049Highest 94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derby and Saugus 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	#138 of 149 in CT	#194 of 282 in MA
School district	Derby School District	Saugus
High school in town	Derby High School	Saugus High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	15.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.