Compare towns
Peabody vs Northbridge vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
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.
| Measure | Peabody | Northbridge | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
16,458Lowest |
28,773 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
| Peabody and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$101,539±$3k 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 | $596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
| Saugus and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Saugus and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,065 15% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Northbridge | Saugus |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Northbridge High | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.8 |
15.5Highest |
| 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.