What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has the most affordable homes ($603k median).

Swampscott has the most people working from home (27.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Saugus	Swampscott
People
Population	28,773Highest	15,277Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5 11% above MA	44.5±3.5 11% above MA
Kids under 18	15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Saugus and Swampscott 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%	62.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Saugus and Swampscott 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	$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA	$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Lowest 27% above MA	$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA
	Swampscott and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Lowest about the MA average	$7,936Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Swampscott 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%	7.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#194 of 282 in MA	#76 of 282 in MA
School district	Saugus	Swampscott
High school in town	Saugus High	Swampscott High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.