Compare towns
Saugus vs Quinebaug 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k 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 | Quinebaug | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
1,193Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug and Saugus 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% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Quinebaug 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. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
— | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug and Northbridge 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 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.