Compare towns
Saugus vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield vs Middleborough
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 expensive homes ($603k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
12,579Lowest |
15,141 |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Middleborough 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Middleborough 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Middleborough 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Saugus 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.