Compare towns
Saugus vs Williston vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Williston | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
10,144Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Saugus 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Wakefield 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #11 of 70 in VT | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Saugus High | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.