Compare towns
Saugus vs Gardner vs Randolph Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Randolph Town has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Randolph Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773 |
21,148Lowest |
34,878Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
41.3±1.8Lowest 3% 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%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Randolph Town 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Gardner 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% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3k about the MA average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$109,573±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| Randolph Town 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$496,400±$21k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,103±$98 19% above MA |
| Saugus and Randolph Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,644 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Randolph Town 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% |
8.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Randolph Town 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #260 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Gardner | Randolph |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | Randolph High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.