Compare towns
Saugus vs Wareham vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Wareham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
23,302 |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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 about the MA average |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Saugus and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Saugus 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Wareham | Northbridge |
| High school in town | — | Wareham Senior High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.