Compare towns
Saugus vs Windham 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
Saugus has the most affordable homes ($603k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Windham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
16,038Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Wakefield 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kLowest 81% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201 59% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Windham School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Windham High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
12.8 |
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.