Compare towns
Saugus vs Wakefield vs Willimantic
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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k 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.
| Measure | Saugus | Wakefield | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
27,793 |
18,096Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
31.3±2.7Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Saugus and Wakefield 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% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Willimantic and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$45,962±$7kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$190,900±$17kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,063±$68Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049 94% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$4,678Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Willimantic 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — |
| High school in town | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.