What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has the most homeowners (71.5%).

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	28,773Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA
Kids under 18	15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA	$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest about the MA average	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester 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%	19.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	24 minLowest 17% below MA
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Saugus and Worcester 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	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	Saugus	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Saugus High	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	14.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.