What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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	Dalton
People
Population	28,773Highest	6,256Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Lowest 11% above MA	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA
	Dalton 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%	20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dalton 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%	44.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average	$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest about the MA average	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Saugus and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest MA: 10%	7.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	22 minLowest 24% below MA
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Saugus and Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Saugus	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Saugus High	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.