Compare towns
Saugus vs Exeter 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 most homeowners (71.5%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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.
| Measure | Saugus | Exeter | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
16,151Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Saugus 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.