What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has the most affordable homes ($603k median).

Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).

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	Lexington
People
Population	28,773Lowest	34,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Lowest 11% above MA	47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA
	Lexington 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%	25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	21.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Saugus and Lexington 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%	84.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Saugus and Lexington 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	$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA	$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Lowest 27% above MA	$2,891±$233Highest 64% above 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%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%	50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Saugus and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	80.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#194 of 282 in MA	#2 of 282 in MA
School district	Saugus	Lexington
High school in town	Saugus High	Lexington High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.