Compare towns
Saugus vs Worcester vs Dartmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Dartmouth has the most homeowners (76%).
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 | Worcester | Dartmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Lowest |
207,055Highest |
33,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
42.5±2 6% above MA |
| Saugus and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Dartmouth 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
39%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
14.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dartmouth and Worcester 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 about the MA average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$99,839±$8k 4% below MA |
| Saugus and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$496,500±$20k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,462±$159Lowest 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,263Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
54%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Dartmouth 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% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Saugus and Dartmouth 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 | #115 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dartmouth |
| High school in town | Saugus High | South High Community | Dartmouth High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
14.6 |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.