Compare towns
Saugus vs Suffield vs Northbridge vs Middleborough
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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Middleborough has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Suffield | Northbridge | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
15,702Lowest |
16,458 |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Middleborough 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Northbridge 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. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049 94% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Northbridge 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | Northbridge | Middleborough |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | Northbridge High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
10.8Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.