Compare towns
Saugus vs Chilmark vs Wakefield
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 affordable homes ($603k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Wakefield has the most kids (20% 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 | Chilmark | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
1,578Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% 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% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Lowest 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% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Wakefield 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 |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Chilmark and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201 27% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
| Chilmark and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049 about the MA average |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Wakefield 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Up-Island Regional | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Saugus High | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.