What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ipswich has the highest household income ($139k).

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	Ipswich	Saugus
People
Population	13,930Lowest	28,773Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA	44.5±2.5Lowest 11% above MA
	Ipswich and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ipswich and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Saugus and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Saugus and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA	$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA	$603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,960Highest 33% above MA	$6,049Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Saugus and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%	6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	18.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%	14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ipswich 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	#101 of 282 in MA	#194 of 282 in MA
School district	Ipswich	Saugus
High school in town	Ipswich High	Saugus High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	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.