Compare towns

Saugus vs East Hampton vs Wakefield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
East Hampton has the most affordable homes ($349k median).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).

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.

MeasureSaugusEast HamptonWakefield
People
Population
28,773Highest
12,925Lowest
27,793
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
43.6±3.7
12% above U.S.
42.4±1.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
Saugus and East Hampton 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%
21.4%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
East Hampton and Wakefield 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%
20.8%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Saugus and East Hampton 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
U.S.: 35.7%
39%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Saugus and East Hampton 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
26% above U.S.
$124,577±$11k
54% above U.S.
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
Wakefield and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$603,400±$13k
81% above U.S.
$349,000±$14kLowest
5% above U.S.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,241±$201Highest
59% above U.S.
$1,393±$150Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,958±$102
39% above U.S.
Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,049Lowest
94% above U.S.
$6,681
114% above U.S.
$7,779Highest
149% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Saugus and East Hampton 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%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
14.3%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #194 of 282 in MA #75 of 149 in CT #179 of 282 in MA
School district Saugus East Hampton School District —
High school in town Saugus High East Hampton High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
15.5Highest
11.3Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.