What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hadley has the most people working from home (20.1%).

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	Hadley	Saugus
People
Population	5,306Lowest	28,773Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA	44.5±2.5Lowest 11% above MA
	Hadley and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%	15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hadley and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%	22%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hadley and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hadley and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA	$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA	$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,271Lowest 12% below MA	$6,049Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Saugus and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest MA: 10%	6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 33% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%	14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hadley 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	#116 of 282 in MA	#194 of 282 in MA
School district	Hadley	Saugus
High school in town	Hopkins Academy	Saugus High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.3Lowest	15.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.