What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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.

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

Measure	Saugus	Putnam
People
Population	28,773Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Saugus and Putnam 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%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Saugus 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%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Saugus and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Saugus and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest 94% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saugus and Putnam 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%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#194 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Saugus	Putnam School District
High school in town	Saugus High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.