Compare towns
Saugus vs Needham vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Lowest |
32,459Highest |
28,773Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Lowest 27% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,241±$201Lowest 27% above MA |
| Needham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,049Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | — | — |
| High school in town | Saugus High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5 |
— | — |
| 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.