What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).

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	Chaplin
People
Population	28,773Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Saugus and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Chaplin and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Saugus and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin 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±$3kHighest 26% above U.S.	$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
	Saugus and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S.	$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest 94% above U.S.	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saugus and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chaplin 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	—
School district	Saugus	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Saugus High	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	7.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.