Compare towns
Middleborough vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Saugus has the most renters (28.5% rent).
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 | Windham | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505 |
16,038Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7%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% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,700±$18kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201 59% above U.S. |
| 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% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Windham School District | Saugus |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Windham High School | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.8 |
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.