Compare towns
Saugus vs Sturbridge 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 the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Sturbridge | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
9,960Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Northbridge 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 |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049 about the MA average |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Saugus and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Northbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
7.7Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.