What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has the most renters (28.5% rent).

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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	Stowe
People
Population	28,773Highest	5,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.
	Stowe 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%	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S.	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Saugus and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kLowest 81% above U.S.	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.
	Stowe and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S.	$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Lowest 94% above U.S.	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stowe 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	—
School district	Saugus	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	Saugus High	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.