Compare towns
Saugus vs Wakefield vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
27,793 |
17,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Wakefield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 about the MA average |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Saugus and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest 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 |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Webster |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.