Compare towns
Saugus vs Saugus vs Ware vs Middleborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Saugus | Ware | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
28,773Highest |
10,048Lowest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Middleborough 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% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% MA: 47.3% |
31.4% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average |
$101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$97,056±$7k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest about the MA average |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Middleborough 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
76.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Saugus | Ware | Middleborough |
| High school in town | — | Saugus High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.