Compare towns
Middleborough vs Windham vs Worcester 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 kids (18.8% under 18).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
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 | Worcester | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,505 |
594Lowest |
831 |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Middleborough and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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±$7k 20% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Middleborough 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. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 93% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 |
| School district | Middleborough | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.