Compare towns
Saugus vs Ayer vs Middleborough
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).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Middleborough has the most homeowners (76.9%).
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 | Ayer | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
8,645Lowest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
| Saugus and Middleborough 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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Middleborough 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Middleborough 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% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Ayer 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 |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
| Ayer 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 |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest about the MA average |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Ayer Shirley School District | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
11.5 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.