Compare towns
Saugus vs Hingham vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saugus has the most affordable homes ($603k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Hingham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
24,283Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Hingham 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Wakefield 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham 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% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 about the MA average |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201 27% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Hingham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Hingham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
12.9 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.