Compare towns
Douglas vs Saugus vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Douglas | Saugus | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
28,773Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Saugus and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Saugus | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Saugus High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
15.5Highest |
7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.