Compare towns

Newfields vs Saugus vs Wakefield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Saugus has the most affordable homes ($603k median).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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.

MeasureNewfieldsSaugusWakefield
People
Population
2,023Lowest
28,773Highest
27,793
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
42.4±1.7Lowest
9% 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%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
15.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wakefield and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9Lowest
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.
$134,306±$14k
66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$603,400±$13kLowest
81% above U.S.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,875±$323Lowest
33% above U.S.
$2,241±$201Highest
59% above U.S.
$1,958±$102
39% above U.S.
Saugus and Wakefield 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.
$7,779
149% 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%
43.7%±7.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Saugus and Wakefield 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%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
12% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Wakefield 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 — #194 of 282 in MA #179 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 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.