Compare towns
Saugus vs Wakefield vs Plainfield
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
27,793 |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Saugus and Wakefield 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%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Wakefield 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Saugus | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
10.7 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.