Compare towns
Wakefield vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Saugus has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Wakefield | Putnam | Windsor Locks | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
9,292Lowest |
12,579 |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.