Compare towns
Wakefield vs Dover vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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.
| Measure | Wakefield | Dover | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793 |
2,308Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
| Dover and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$14k 29% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
— | $2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 30% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,049Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — | — |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.