Compare towns
Saugus vs Bourne 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).
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 | Bourne | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
20,323 |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne 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 |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% 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 |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Saugus and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne 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% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Bourne 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.