Compare towns
Saugus vs Union vs Chaplin vs Middleborough
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).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Middleborough has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Union | Chaplin | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Union and Saugus 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% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middleborough and Union 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin 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±$3kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Chaplin 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. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
— | $1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Middleborough 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | — | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Saugus High | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.