Compare towns
Saugus vs Hanover vs Northbridge
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%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
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 | Hanover | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
14,845Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Saugus and Northbridge 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% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Northbridge 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 about the MA average |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Saugus and Hanover 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 |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover and Northbridge 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.