What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has the most people working from home (14.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Saugus	Webster
People
Population	28,773Highest	17,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA	39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average
	Saugus and Webster 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%	19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Webster and Saugus 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%	19.6%±2.5Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Lowest 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±$3kHighest about the MA average	$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA	$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA	$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest about the MA average	$3,999Lowest 33% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%	45.7%±6.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10%	12.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962 2 yrs older than MA	1962 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#194 of 282 in MA	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	Saugus	Webster
High school in town	Saugus High	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	11.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.