Compare towns
Saugus vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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 | Dover | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
5,930Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$3kLowest about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201 27% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Dover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Saugus and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | 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.