Compare towns
Saugus vs Gardner vs Middleborough
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%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Middleborough has the most homeowners (76.9%).
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 | Gardner | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
21,148Lowest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Saugus and Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Middleborough and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Middleborough 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$97,056±$7k 7% below MA |
| Saugus and Middleborough 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Saugus and Middleborough 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Gardner | Middleborough |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.