What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

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	Northbridge	Saugus
People
Population	16,458Lowest	28,773Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Lowest 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	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Saugus and Northbridge 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 7% above MA	$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average
	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±$15kLowest 20% below MA	$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA	$6,049Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	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%Highest MA: 10%	6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	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	#194 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Saugus
High school in town	Northbridge High	Saugus High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	15.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.