Compare towns
Middleborough vs Hooksett vs Saugus vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleborough has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hooksett | Saugus | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,505 |
15,057Lowest |
28,773Highest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middleborough and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
27%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,223±$82Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 93% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
$4,918Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saugus and Ludlow 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #194 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Hooksett School District | Saugus | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | None in town | Saugus High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | 15.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.