Compare towns
Reading vs Reading vs Saugus vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saugus has the most affordable homes ($603k median).
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Reading | Reading | Saugus | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Lowest |
25,612Lowest |
28,773 |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Saugus and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
$111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA |
$673,500±$17k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$2,221±$77 26% above MA |
| Saugus and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,049 about the MA average |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Woburn and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | Saugus | Woburn |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | Saugus High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
15.5Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.