Compare towns
Saugus vs Hadley vs Middleborough
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%).
Hadley has the most people working from home (20.1%).
Middleborough has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Hadley | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
5,306Lowest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Hadley 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% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Middleborough and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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±$3k about the MA average |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$468,700±$18kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest about the MA average |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
76.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Saugus 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Hadley | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Hopkins Academy | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
7.3Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.