Compare towns
Saugus vs Worcester vs Wakefield
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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Worcester | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773 |
207,055Highest |
27,793Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wakefield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3k about the MA average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| 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.