What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has the most homeowners (71.5%).

Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).

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	Woburn
People
Population	28,773Lowest	41,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA	39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	17.9%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Woburn 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%	15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	46.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Saugus and Woburn 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 about the MA average	$111,185±$9kHighest 7% above MA
	Woburn and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA	$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA	$2,221±$77Lowest 26% above MA
	Saugus and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest about the MA average	$5,354Lowest 11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Woburn and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	25 minLowest 13% below MA
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	16%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Woburn 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	#169 of 282 in MA
School district	Saugus	Woburn
High school in town	Saugus High	Woburn High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	11.2Lowest
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.