What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).

Saugus has the most expensive 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	Thompson	Saugus
People
Population	9,337Lowest	28,773Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.	44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Saugus and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.	$101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Saugus and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.	$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.	$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.	$6,049Highest 94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Saugus and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT	#194 of 282 in MA
School district	Thompson School District	Saugus
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	Saugus High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	15.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.