Compare towns

Saugus vs Saugus vs Springfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

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.

MeasureSaugusSaugusSpringfield
People
Population
28,773Lowest
28,773Lowest
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±2.5Highest
11% above MA
44.5±2.5Highest
11% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
Kids under 18
15.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
15.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
22%±2.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
22%±2.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
31.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,539±$3kHighest
about the MA average
$101,539±$3kHighest
about the MA average
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$603,400±$13kHighest
7% above MA
$603,400±$13kHighest
7% above MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,241±$201Highest
27% above MA
$2,241±$201Highest
27% above MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,049Highest
about the MA average
$6,049Highest
about the MA average
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53%±9.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
53%±9.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Springfield 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%
6%Lowest
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
71.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962Highest
2 yrs older than MA
1962Highest
2 yrs older than MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
about the MA average
30 minHighest
about the MA average
20 minLowest
31% below MA
Work from home
14.3%±2.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.3%±2.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #194 of 282 in MA #194 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA
School district — Saugus Springfield
High school in town — Saugus High Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.5Highest
12.2Lowest
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.