What stands out worked out from the figures below

Montville has the most affordable homes ($286k median).

Saugus has the most people working from home (14.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Montville	Saugus
People
Population	17,950Lowest	28,773Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±4.1Lowest 10% above U.S.	44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Saugus and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Montville and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Montville and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,454±$11kLowest 19% above U.S.	$101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Saugus and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$285,600±$13kLowest 14% below U.S.	$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,187±$99Lowest 16% below U.S.	$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,565Lowest 46% above U.S.	$6,049Highest 94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saugus and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	5.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#95 of 149 in CT	#194 of 282 in MA
School district	Montville School District	Saugus
High school in town	Montville High School	Saugus High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.2Lowest	15.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.