Compare towns
Middleborough vs Ripton vs Saugus vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Dracut has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Saugus | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,505 |
508Lowest |
28,773 |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72Lowest 21% above U.S. |
— | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 93% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton 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 | — | #194 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Saugus | Dracut |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | None in town | Saugus High | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 15.5Highest |
12.9 |
| 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.