Compare towns

Salisbury vs Saugus vs Salisbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).

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.

MeasureSalisburySaugusSalisbury
People
Population
9,281
28,773Highest
5,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.5%
MA: +7.4%
+7.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+15.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
51.3±3.5Highest
28% above MA
44.5±2.5Lowest
11% above MA
51±6.9
28% above MA
Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.1%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
15.2%±2Highest
MA: 19.4%
12.3%±3.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Saugus and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±3.5
MA: 17.9%
22%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
29.1%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.8%
MA: 47.3%
31.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
50.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.7Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.5
MA: 7.9%
Saugus and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,361±$6k
10% below MA
$101,539±$3kHighest
about the MA average
$92,469±$7kLowest
11% below MA
Saugus and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$478,700±$27k
15% below MA
$603,400±$13kHighest
7% above MA
$465,900±$31kLowest
17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,691±$411Lowest
4% below MA
$2,241±$201Highest
27% above MA
$1,770±$444
about the MA average
Saugus and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,604
23% below MA
$6,049Highest
about the MA average
$4,561Lowest
24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±11.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
53%±9.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
59.8%±11.2
MA: 51.8%
Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
6%Highest
MA: 10%
5.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%
MA: 62.5%
71.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
65.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
16 yrs newer than MA
1962Lowest
2 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% below MA
30 min
about the MA average
30 minHighest
about the MA average
Work from home
19.8%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.3%±2.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.7%±6.9
MA: 18.6%
Salisbury and Salisbury 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 #240 of 282 in MA #194 of 282 in MA #240 of 282 in MA
School district Triton Saugus —
High school in town None in town Saugus High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.5
—
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.