Compare towns
Saugus vs Central Falls vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Saugus | Central Falls | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
22,701 |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% 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 | 15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Northbridge |
| High school in town | — | Central Falls Sr High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.