Compare towns
Middleborough vs Saugus vs Ware vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Saugus | Ware | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,505 |
28,773 |
10,048Lowest |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
41.7±2Lowest 4% 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% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dracut and Ware 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% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
31.4% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Dracut 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 |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Dracut 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 |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72 3% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,839±$130 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 about the MA average |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,375 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9% MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Lowest 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Saugus | Ware | Dracut |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Saugus High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
15.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.