Compare towns
Middleborough vs Newfields vs Saugus
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 affordable homes ($469k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505 |
2,023Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Middleborough 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$7kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,700±$18kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #170 of 282 in MA | — | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Newfields School District | 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 Our Story | 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.