Compare towns
Saugus vs Dover vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Dover | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
5,930Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
44.5±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Dover and Saugus 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Lowest 27% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,241±$201Lowest 27% above MA |
| Dover and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,049Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Saugus |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
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.