Compare towns
Saugus vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Needham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773 |
32,459Highest |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201 27% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Needham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | — | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | — | 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.