Compare towns
Saugus vs Lowell 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 the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Lowell | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773 |
118,368Highest |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below 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% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3k about the MA average |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Saugus and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Saugus 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Lowell | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Lowell High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
14.8 |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.