Compare towns
Saugus vs Thomaston 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
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Thomaston | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
7,492Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Thomaston 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% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston and Saugus 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 26% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Thomaston 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. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Thomaston School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Thomaston High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.