Compare towns
Saugus vs Lisbon vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lisbon | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
4,211Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±5.2Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lisbon and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$92,708±$12k 15% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$315,700±$26k 5% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
— | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,044Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saugus and Plainville 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Saugus | Lisbon School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Saugus High | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.