What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Southwick has the most affordable homes ($398k 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	Southwick
People
Population	28,773Highest	9,217Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Lowest 11% above MA	46.8±1.8Highest 17% above MA
	Southwick 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 MA: 19.4%	18.2%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Southwick 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%	21%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Saugus and Southwick 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 MA: 47.3%	35.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Saugus and Southwick 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 about the MA average	$120,462±$16kHighest 16% above MA
	Southwick 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 7% above MA	$397,500±$27kLowest 29% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA	$1,332±$72Lowest 24% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest about the MA average	$5,331Lowest 11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%	51%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Saugus and Southwick 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%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Southwick 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	#211 of 282 in MA
School district	Saugus	Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
High school in town	Saugus High	Southwick Regional School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	11.0Lowest
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.