Compare towns
Northbridge vs Saugus vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Lowest |
28,773 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| 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 20% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 20% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Saugus | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Saugus High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
15.5Highest |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.