What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Saugus	Northbridge
People
Population	28,773Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA	43.8±2.6Lowest 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%	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Saugus and Northbridge 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	$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	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest about the MA average	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Saugus and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Lowest 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	#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 Our Story	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.