Compare towns
Saugus vs Wakefield vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
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 | Wakefield | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
27,793Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Lowest about the MA average |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$6,049Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | — | — |
| High school in town | Saugus High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.