Compare towns
Saugus vs Worcester vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
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.
| Measure | Saugus | Worcester | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,773Lowest |
207,055Highest |
28,773Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Lowest 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% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #194 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 | 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.