Compare towns
Saugus vs Thompson vs Brooklyn vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Thompson | Brooklyn | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
9,337 |
8,517Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049 94% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Thompson School District | Brooklyn School District | — |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.