Compare towns
Middleborough vs Hardwick vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleborough has the most homeowners (76.9%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k 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.
| Measure | Middleborough | Hardwick | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505 |
2,684Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
| Hardwick and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7k 7% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average |
| Saugus and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72 3% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 about the MA average |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Saugus and Middleborough 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Quabbin | Saugus |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | None in town | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 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.