Compare towns
Saugus vs Wakefield vs Windsor Locks vs Northbridge
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%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Windsor Locks | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
27,793 |
12,579Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Northbridge 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Saugus 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Windsor Locks School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Windsor Locks High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
8.9Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.