Compare towns
Saugus vs Plainville vs Northbridge
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 most expensive homes ($603k median).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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.
| Measure | Saugus | Plainville | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
17,551 |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 81% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Plainville High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
11.4 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.