Compare towns
Saugus vs Springfield vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Springfield | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773 |
154,749Highest |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Saugus and Northbridge 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Northbridge 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3k about the MA average |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest about the MA average |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Springfield | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Springfield Central High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
12.2 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.