Compare towns
Hingham vs Saugus vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Saugus has the most affordable homes ($603k median).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Hingham | Saugus | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Lowest |
28,773Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Hingham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,241±$201 27% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,049Lowest about the MA average |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Saugus | — |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Saugus High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
15.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.