Compare towns
Saugus vs Plainfield vs Dartmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dartmouth has the most homeowners (76%).
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 | Plainfield | Dartmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773 |
15,141Lowest |
33,328Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.5±2 9% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$99,839±$8k 24% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$496,500±$20k 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,462±$159 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,263 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dartmouth and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saugus and Dartmouth 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #115 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Dartmouth |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | Dartmouth High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.