What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Saugus	Newfields
People
Population	28,773Highest	2,023Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.	44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Saugus and Newfields 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%	18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields 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 26% above U.S.	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kLowest 81% above U.S.	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.
	Newfields and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S.	$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S.
	Saugus and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Lowest 94% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saugus and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#194 of 282 in MA	—
School district	—	Newfields School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.