Compare towns
Saugus vs Wakefield vs Windham vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k 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 | Windham | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
27,793 |
19,188Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049 94% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Windham 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | RSU 14 | Saugus |
| High school in town | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Windham High School | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.1 |
15.5Highest |
| 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.