What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Norton has the most people working from home (19%).

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	Norton
People
Population	28,773Highest	19,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	17.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Norton and Saugus 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%	17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA	$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA	$1,911±$375Lowest 8% above MA
	Saugus and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest about the MA average	$5,929Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Saugus and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Norton 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	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Saugus	Norton
High school in town	Saugus High	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.