Compare towns
Northbridge vs Plainfield 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
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Northbridge | Plainfield | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
15,141Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Saugus 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Plainfield School District | Saugus |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Plainfield High School | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.3Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| 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.