What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Saugus	Harvard
People
Population	28,773Highest	6,927Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA	44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA
	Saugus and Harvard 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%	21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Harvard and Saugus 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%	16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Saugus and Harvard 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	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Lowest about the MA average	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest MA: 10%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#194 of 282 in MA	#12 of 282 in MA
School district	Saugus	Harvard
High school in town	Saugus High	The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.