Compare towns
Saugus vs Saco vs Middleborough
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).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Middleborough has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Saco | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
20,819Lowest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Saco and Saugus 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% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middleborough and Saco 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%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Saco 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. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Middleborough 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. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough and Saugus 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Saco Public Schools | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Saugus High | None in town | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.