Compare towns
Northbridge vs Saugus vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($449k median).
Saugus has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Saugus | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
28,773Highest |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201 59% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Northbridge 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Northbridge | Saugus | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Saugus High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
15.5Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.