Compare towns
Saugus vs Chicopee vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
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 | Chicopee | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773 |
55,295Highest |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.9±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Northbridge 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 about the MA average |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above 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 | $603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest about the MA average |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Saugus and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Chicopee | Northbridge |
| High school in town | — | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.