Compare towns
Saugus vs 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
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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.
| Measure | Saugus | Hampton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
1,647Lowest |
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±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Wakefield 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. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below 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 | $6,049 94% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Hampton 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Hampton School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Saugus High | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.