Compare towns
Needham vs Northbridge vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Saugus has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Needham | Northbridge | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
16,458Lowest |
28,773 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Saugus and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,241±$201 27% above MA |
| Needham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,049 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Northbridge | Saugus |
| High school in town | Needham High | Northbridge High | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
10.8Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.