Compare towns
Saugus vs Suffield vs Saugus 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
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Suffield | Saugus | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
15,702Lowest |
28,773Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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 81% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049 94% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #194 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Suffield School District | — | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Suffield High School | — | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
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.