Compare towns
Saugus vs Mendon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Mendon has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
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 | Mendon | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
6,325Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Saugus and Mendon 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon 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±$3kLowest about the MA average |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Mendon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Mendon and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049 about the MA average |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Mendon-Upton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
— | 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.