What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Auburn has the most kids (21% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Saugus	Auburn
People
Population	28,773Highest	16,970Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Lowest 11% above MA	44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Auburn and Saugus 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%	21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	20.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Saugus and Auburn 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%	45.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Saugus and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average	$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA	$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA	$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest about the MA average	$5,289Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Saugus and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest MA: 10%	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 12% below MA
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Saugus and Auburn 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	#106 of 282 in MA
School district	Saugus	Auburn
High school in town	Saugus High	Auburn Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.