Compare towns
Saugus vs Thompson 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
Saugus has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
9,337Lowest |
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. |
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%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest 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% |
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% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,958±$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. |
$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% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.