Compare towns
Saugus vs Wakefield vs Woonsocket 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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Woonsocket | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773 |
27,793 |
43,521Highest |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below 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%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Northbridge 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% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Woonsocket 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below 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. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Northbridge 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | — | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Saugus High | — | Woonsocket High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
— | 15.2 |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.