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Living in
Saugus.
Saugus is an unincorporated community in Essex County, MA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Saugus
Saugus functions as a practical bedroom community for Boston commuters, sitting just far enough out to offer lower costs than the city while remaining accessible for work—your average commute runs about 29 minutes. The median home price hovers around $603,400 with median rent at $2,241 monthly, which is more reasonable than inner Boston but still reflects the regional market. Route 1 cuts straight through town as a busy commercial strip, which means easy shopping and services but also that traffic and highway noise are part of the landscape; this same corridor once featured iconic roadside Americana that's largely disappeared.
Saugus at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Foreign-Born
18.3%
Broadband Internet
91.1%
of households
Population Growth
+1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics18.3% foreign-born, most often from Brazil
Who lives in Saugus: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Saugus, the largest foreign-born group is from Brazil (12.9%), and 9.5% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
15.2%
of residents
65 and Older
22.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.4%
of households
Married Couples
54.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.60
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 27% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Saugus
In Saugus, rent runs 27% above the MA average, and home values are 7% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,049
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1962
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $682,928 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MA
Unemployment in Saugus
Unemployment in Essex County, which includes Saugus, is close to the MA average.
Unemployment rate
Saugus: Essex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Essex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Saugus is about 4% of Essex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Saugus Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute29.6 min avg
How Saugus residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Saugus, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Saugus runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
168.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,273.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Saugus Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Essex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Essex County, which includes Saugus, the most common type is strong wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,700 |
| 2024 | 9 | High Wind | $3,500 |
| 2023 | 18 | Heavy Snow | $21,500 |
| 2022 | 19 | Strong Wind | $140,700 |
| 2021 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $261,900 |
| 2020 | 37 | High Wind | $63,100 |
| 2019 | 26 | Strong Wind | $171,950 |
| 2018 | 34 | Strong Wind | $564,200 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Essex County, county-wide
Saugus is about 4% of Essex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Essex County, which includes Saugus, is typically good — 296 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
296
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Essex County, county-wide
Saugus is about 4% of Essex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Saugus has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.5"
Annual Snowfall
63.5"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
134
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 19°F | 3.86" |
| Feb | 40°F | 20°F | 3.62" |
| Mar | 48°F | 27°F | 4.89" |
| Apr | 60°F | 37°F | 4.34" |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 3.81" |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 4.21" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 4.01" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.54" |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.93" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 4.76" |
| Nov | 53°F | 32°F | 4.01" |
| Dec | 43°F | 24°F | 5.02" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Saugus
Uninsured
1.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Saugus's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Melrosewakefield Healthcare
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Melrose
Winchester Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Winchester
North Shore Medical Center -
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.1 mi away · Salem
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Saugus
Saugus's student/teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 31.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
31.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Saugus (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts-Boston
10.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,512 students · in-state tuition $16,558 · 62% graduate · median earnings $70,597 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,085 students · in-state tuition $73,508 · 91% graduate · median earnings $112,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,601 students · in-state tuition $64,796 · 98% graduate · median earnings $121,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site, 0 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Saugus
Saugus has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site (0 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
0 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
7 mi awaySalem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
7 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
8 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
8 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
11 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayPublic Libraries in Saugus
Saugus Public Library
295 Central St., Saugus
Cities Near Saugus
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Saugus?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Saugus FAQ
Is Saugus, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Saugus's median rent is $2,241/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $101,539/year. Median home value is $603,400.
Is Saugus, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Saugus's violent crime rate was 169 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1273 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Saugus, Massachusetts?⌄
Essex County, which includes Saugus, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Saugus, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Saugus is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,241/month and median household income is $101,539/year. The median home value is $603,400. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Saugus, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Saugus is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from