Compare towns
Wakefield vs Central Falls 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%).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Central Falls | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793 |
22,701Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Central Falls 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. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$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. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls 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% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | — |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Central Falls Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.