Compare towns
Saugus vs Everett vs Northbridge vs Stoughton
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Stoughton has the most homeowners (74.1%).
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 | Everett | Northbridge | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773 |
50,045Highest |
16,458Lowest |
29,225 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
| Stoughton 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Stoughton 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$104,794±$6k about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$523,800±$28k 7% below MA |
| Everett and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
| Saugus and Everett 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,215Highest 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
8.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
74.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
33 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Stoughton 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Everett | Northbridge | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Everett High | Northbridge High | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
12.1 |
10.8Lowest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.