What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Newfields	Saugus
People
Population	2,023Lowest	28,773Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S.	44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Saugus and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$603,400±$13kLowest 81% above U.S.
	Newfields and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S.	$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S.
	Saugus and Newfields 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 221% above U.S.	$6,049Lowest 94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saugus and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#194 of 282 in MA
School district	Newfields School District	Saugus
High school in town	None in town	Saugus High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	15.5
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.