Compare towns
Saugus vs Southwick vs Suffield 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).
Southwick has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Southwick | Suffield | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
9,217Lowest |
15,702 |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Southwick 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% |
21%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Southwick and Suffield 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. |
$397,500±$27kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,332±$72 6% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049 94% above U.S. |
$5,331 71% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Southwick 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | Suffield School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Southwick Regional School | Suffield High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
11.0 |
10.9 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.