Compare towns
Saugus vs Chilmark 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 renters (28.5% rent).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Middleborough has the most affordable homes ($469k 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.
| Measure | Saugus | Chilmark | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
1,578Lowest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Chilmark 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% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Middleborough and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Saugus 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% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Middleborough 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 |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$468,700±$18kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201 27% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,706±$72Lowest 3% below MA |
| Chilmark and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark 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 | — | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Up-Island Regional | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Saugus High | None in town | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.