What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).

Saugus has the most affordable homes ($603k median).

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	Stoneham	Saugus
People
Population	23,355Lowest	28,773Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA
	Saugus and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Saugus and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Saugus and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA	$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average
	Stoneham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA	$603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA
	Saugus and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$6,049Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Saugus and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#194 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Saugus
High school in town	Stoneham High	Saugus High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	15.5Highest
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.