Compare towns
Wakefield vs Stratham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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.
| Measure | Wakefield | Stratham | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793 |
7,754Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Wakefield 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 66% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kLowest 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201 59% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 149% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,049Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.