What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).

Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k 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	Winchester
People
Population	28,773Highest	10,284Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S.
	Winchester 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%	15.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Winchester and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Winchester and Saugus 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 U.S.: 35.7%	27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Saugus and Winchester 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 26% above U.S.	$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S.	$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S.	$1,174±$116Lowest 17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest 94% above U.S.	$4,780Lowest 53% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.9%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saugus and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#194 of 282 in MA	#97 of 149 in CT
School district	Saugus	Explorations District · Regional School District 07
High school in town	Saugus High	Northwestern Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.