Compare towns
Middleborough vs Oxford vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k 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 | Oxford | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505 |
13,385Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Saugus and Middleborough 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% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford 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 7% below MA |
$103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
| Oxford and Saugus 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 |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72 3% below MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 about the MA average |
$4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford 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% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9% MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Oxford 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Oxford | Saugus |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Oxford High | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.3Lowest |
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.