Compare towns
Saugus vs Newfields vs Wakefield vs Middleborough
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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Middleborough has the most affordable homes ($469k 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 | Newfields | Wakefield | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
2,023Lowest |
27,793 |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,706±$72Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049 94% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$6,023Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Wakefield 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Newfields School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Saugus High | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 photos → | 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.